Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the answer, but to be honest, it is nonsensical. I am told that it is untrue to say people who present for alcohol addiction treatment are offered a range of interventions in Galway; therefore, I refute that suggestion. Possibly the one sentence in the reply with which I agree is that it is essential to have a public health policy response that seeks to reduce the number engaged in the harmful use of alcohol. I am told that the limiting of the service whereby GPs can refer people to the alcohol addiction service in Merlin Park hospital in Galway flies in the face of that statement. It will cause huge problems for those who are already being seen by alcohol addiction services and will cause a lot of stress for families during the Christmas person when the problem is exacerbated and families find themselves in very difficult territory with a family a member who has an alcohol abuse problem. I implore the Minister of State to contact HSE West about this issue today to see what can be done in the interim until the new policy in which she is in investing is brought forward to have a stay of execution until at least after Christmas.