Mary Moran (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I, too, would like to welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for coming in to discuss a very serious issue concerning the HSE drugs counselling services and programmes for those under 18 in Dundalk. I have been in contact with local people who are acutely aware of the situation since the closure of the drugs counselling services for those under 18 in December last and I am led to believe that at present, the Dundalk area has no HSE drugs counselling service for the under 18s category. I was speaking to local gardaí as recently as today about this matter and they are very concerned at the lack of services for young people. It is testament to the efforts of gardaí and juvenile liaison officers, JLOs, in the area that they are working above and beyond the call of duty. Gardaí want to work tirelessly to help young people stay out of the criminal justice system, but it becomes more difficult when the first port of call, the drugs counselling service, is not available. Drug use and addiction continue to be major local issues; therefore, we should provide the supports and services necessary to assist young people in their recovery from addiction.

I am led to believe the biggest local problem is the use of benzodiazepines, benzos. People are buying them on the internet on which they are openly on sale. Because of the amounts people are taking, they are causing serious health problems. Compared to when ecstasy tabs were popular, benzos are causing a completely different reaction where users actually appear to be unaware of what is happening to them. This is making it more difficult for people like the juvenile liaison officers to help them. I am aware of one case in which a 17 year old refuses to admit that he has a problem and has, unfortunately, been removed from the family home. As the juvenile liaison officer said to me, normally the first port of call would be the drugs counselling service before seeking further help. When drugs counselling is not available, the juvenile liaison officer's hands are tied.

We all know from our early teen years that they are the most vulnerable. It is recognised that second year in school is the most important in determining which way a student will go. If we do not have the drug counselling services needed in place for young people, we are adding to what is a growing problem. It is imperative that we have appropriate services available which are easily accessible. Private counselling services may be available, but many parents in this predicament with their under-18s do not have private health insurance, nor can they afford to access it.

I ask the Minister to outline why the service was discontinued in the Dundalk area at the end of last year. I also ask him to outline the future plans for drug counselling services for the under-18 age group and specifically the future of the service in Dundalk. The service being sought locally would not be full time; people are not looking for a service from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week, rather they are looking for a service, perhaps one day a week, with a two-hour slot at which young people could be directed by those trying to help them when they could receive the appropriate help they so badly need.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter in the House. The overall strategic aim of the national drugs strategy is to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs, through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. Within this framework, the HSE is committed to achieving improved outcomes for people affected by addiction issues. Regarding the specific issue raised by the Senator, I am advised by the HSE that the under-18 counselling service in Dundalk is still in place. HSE-funded services such as the ISPCC teen focus programme, Turas counselling service and the Meath Jigsaw initiative provide support for young people presenting with substance misuse issues in Dundalk and the wider catchment area. The HSE addiction services in counties Louth and Meath refer appropriate cases for residential treatment and link with the HSE specialist adolescent services in Dublin. Staff work with parents and guardians on young peoples' substance misuse and liaise with and provide support for services working directly with the young people concerned.

The HSE commissioned a review of the Dundalk addiction services last year to determine whether the model of care was adequate to address service user needs and examine the adequacy of clinical governance arrangements underpinning service delivery. This included a review of the model of service organisation in the Louth-Meath area. The review team comprised an external consultant psychiatrist, a GP co-ordinator from HSE addiction services and a general manager from the office of the integrated service area manager, Louth-Meath primary care services. The review was completed earlier this year.

The report concluded that the existing model of service delivery in Louth-Meath needed to be strengthened in the light of the changing profile of substance misuse in the north east, to which the Senator referred. It recommended a number of structural changes to bring service provision in Louth-Meath into line with national addiction services. The changes recommended include the augmentation of the HSE team with specialist senior clinical personnel, restructuring management roles to allow for an appropriate demarcation between operational and clinical management and a review of roles and responsibilities of HSE staff. The report recommended the development of formal shared care working arrangements for service users in line with the national drugs rehabilitation framework and full implementation and monitoring of the needle exchange programme. It highlighted the need for a model of care to respond to the needs of young people dependent on drugs other than heroin.

The HSE is committed to implementing the recommendations made in the report and, as a first step in this process, has shared the report with the relevant staff to obtain their views and feedback on the issues raised. An implementation plan will then be put in place to address the issues raised in the report. The Government takes the issue of drug misuse extremely seriously and is committed to tackling the problem through all available mechanisms. My Department is beginning work on the development of a new national drugs strategy for the period from 2016 onwards. I intend to play an active role in the development of the new strategy and look forward to engaging with all interested parties in this work.

Mary Moran (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. Unfortunately, I can tell him categorically that the HSE service on Market Street, Dundalk which dealt specifically with under-18s ceased before Christmas. I ask that he look into this matter. Telling somebody who is living at the far end of County Louth, has a drug problem and does not have support at home to attend the Meath Jigsaw programme is causing a huge problem, even in terms of the provision of transport. Gardaí and juvenile liaison officers would not come to show their concern if they did not think it was huge problem. I, therefore, ask the Minister to look at this issue again and get a straight answer to the question. Other providers are involving private counselling services, but many of the people caught up in this issue cannot afford to do so. Gardaí are seriously worried about the matter.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will certainly ask my officials to check specifically on the service on Market Street. It is always a possibility that the information I have been given is incorrect. Given the scale and breadth of the health portfolio, it is just not possible for me to be au faitwith every individual service in every town and county at relatively short notice. I will ask my officials to look into the matter and I come back to the Senator later in the week with a full reply by way of correspondence.

Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and the Senator.