Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Buttimer for raising the issue of drug and alcohol detox treatment in Cork and for allowing me the opportunity to update the Seanad on our position. Government policy on drug and alcohol addiction services is set out in the national drugs strategy document, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025. My focus, and that of Government, is now on implementing the strategy and its 50 actions.

The strategy emphasises a public health response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland based on providing person-centred services that promote rehabilitation and recovery. A person-centred approach means giving people a say in their own treatment and supporting them to play a role in their own recovery. Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery reflects a change in attitudes to substance misuse not only among politicians but among people in communities. It promotes a more compassionate and humane approach to people who use drugs, with addiction treated first and foremost as a public health issue. This approach is underpinned by the key values of the national drugs strategy, which are compassion, respect, equality and inclusion. The strategy commits to expanding the availability and geographical spread of relevant quality drug and alcohol services and to improving the range of services available, based on identified need.

In June of this year, I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit Cork city and Cuan Mhuire's new step-down facility at Teach Mhuire, which provides an important service to men exiting rehabilitation, offering aftercare support and safe accommodation. I want to acknowledge Sr. Consilio and Cuan Mhuire for the work they do in providing residential detoxification and treatment for persons suffering from addiction right across the country. I was therefore very pleased that the HSE provided funding for this important service in Cork city.I was, therefore, pleased that the HSE provided funding for this important service in Cork city.

With regard to services in Cork city and county, the HSE has advised that there are eight medically supervised detox beds provided through Cuan Mhuire in Farnanes, County Cork. In cases where the demand exceeds the availability of residential medically supervised detox services in the Cork-Kerry area, the CHO has access to 30 medically supervised detox beds for adults in Cuan Mhuire, Bruree, Limerick, ten medically supervised detox beds for adults in Merchants Quay Ireland, St. Francis Farm, County Carlow, and four medically supervised detox beds for adolescents in Aislinn Adolescent Services, Ballyragget, County Kilkenny. Should a detox bed not be available in any of these facilities, addiction services in Cork and Kerry also provide medically supervised detox for service users in a community setting.

Typically, this would include detox from alcohol, opiates and benzodiazepines. This is provided in association with appropriate counselling supports through community services. The HSE has advised that funding was allocated for the development of a proposal for an eight-bed stabilisation unit for Cork in 2019. This comprises an inpatient stabilisation unit for people when complex needs prevent community stabilisation. In addition to the above, several general practitioners, GPs, provide their service users with detox medications, both with addiction service support and on an independent basis.

The acute hospital sector also provides detox for service users who are acutely ill in an inpatient setting, and mental health services and the acute hospital sector have recognised pathways to refer to addiction services through the crisis nurse and liaison psychiatry service. The HSE has further advised that a recruitment process is currently at an advanced stage for a drug liaison midwife and assistant director of nursing. In addition, an addiction counsellor post has been recently filled and recruitment is under way for a needle exchange worker.