Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and welcome the opportunity to update the House on the support and services provided to persons who experience gambling addiction. I am aware problem gambling affects a significant number of individuals and the Senator is correct in that research conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the Department of Justice estimates approximately 1% of the population is affected by problem gambling. I would have thought it would have been a little higher.

The Department has overall responsibility for gambling regulation and it published the interdepartmental working group report on future licensing and regulation of gambling in 2019. The report addresses the social impact of gambling, including the issue of problem gambling and it notes the social and health impacts of gambling. I acknowledge problem gambling can lead to social breakdown with devastating financial losses and alienation of family and friends. Problem gambling can be associated with a range of harms, including higher risk of psychiatric disorders; alcohol and drug misuse; physical and mental health issues; separation and divorce; and unemployment and insolvency. The interdepartmental working group recommended funding be made available for research, training and community interventions into treatment of problem gambling and gambling addiction, public education and awareness-raising programmes and the production of relevant information materials be supported and assistance be given in the provision of additional services to treat gambling addiction. To meet these objectives, the group recommended a social fund, managed by the gambling regulatory authority, should be established. I fully support this recommendation.

Significant work is being undertaken in the Department of Justice to progress the general scheme for the gambling regulation Bill. This will include the establishment of a social impact fund that will support funding services to treat gambling addiction. The Government approved the general scheme this week and it will be published shortly. The Department of Health does not have a remit for problem gambling. It does not provide funding to support organisations that deal with gambling addiction or problem gamblers. The Department is responsible for providing services for people affected by drug and alcohol addiction. HSE and section-39-funded addiction services have, in some case of gambling addiction, provided treatment within existing resources. Interventions currently provided to those presenting with gambling addiction include one-to-one counselling, financial advice and onward referral to other services. However, for the Department and the HSE to provide specific services or centres for gambling addiction without additional funding would result in significant capacity issues and the lengthening of waiting lists for drug and alcohol addiction.

The Senator asked how many people were treated last year. I do not have the figure but I will try to get it for him. I agree that gambling addiction is a serious issue. I go into bookmakers and online gambling and many times, one has to self-regulate. There are so many angles there with gambling available online, including on one's mobile phone. It is an issue to which we need to wake up and address. I thank him for raising this important issue.