Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the facilities available for the provision of methadone in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, are satisfactory since the closure of the drug treatment centre in the grounds of Blanchardstown Hospital; and the proposals she intends to bring forward to replace the closed facility. [24151/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The provision of drug treatment service is the statutory responsibility of the health boards in the first instance, in this instance, the Northern Area Health Board of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. I have been advised by the Eastern Regional Health Authority that drug treatment services in the Dublin 15 area are available at Mountview health centre, Corduff health centre and Mulhuddart. These centres provide general practitioner, nursing, counselling, outreach and community welfare services.

I have also been advised that a methadone dispensing service is provided on the hospital grounds on a daily basis. The NAHB also runs a needle exchange programme in conjunction with local community drug teams. I am further advised that the NAHB is planning the development of two primary care centres at Hartstown and Mulhuddart-Tyrellstown. The NAHB envisages that addiction services needed to meet the presenting population will be delivered in these centres.

The strategy Primary Care: A New Direction promotes the development of multi-disciplinary primary care teams and networks of health and allied professionals with a capacity to deliver a broad range of health interventions to the local population. The objectives of this strategy include making health services more accessible to the local community and ensuring that interventions that do not require hospital care are provided at the point closest to the customer. It is the intention of the NAHB that addiction services will continue to be developed in accordance with the plan to enhance primary care provision in the Blanchardstown area.