Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 127: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the alarming statistics released by the Health Minister in the Northern Ireland Office on the number of persons under the age of 25 admitted to hospital in the Six Counties for alcohol related illness during 2003-2004 in circumstances in which a serious alcohol related illness was either the primary or secondary diagnosis, her Department has similar figures compiled over the past number of years; and if there has been an increase in admissions to Tallaght hospital regarding this abuse. [23794/05]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 128: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the alarming statistics released by the Health Minister in the Northern Ireland Office on the number of persons under the age of 25 admitted to hospital in the Six Counties for alcohol related illness during 2003-2004 in circumstances in which a serious alcohol related illness was either the primary or secondary diagnosis, her Department has similar figures compiled over the past number of years; and if there has been an increase in admissions to Dublin hospitals due to this abuse. [23795/05]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the concern regarding the amount of persons admitted to hospital in cases in which serious alcohol and drug abuse was either the primary or secondary diagnosis, there has been an increase in admissions to hospitals due to this abuse; and if she has plans to introduce a segregated system particularly for elderly patients in accident and emergency wards. [23796/05]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 130: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the alarming statistics released by the Health Minister in the Northern Ireland Office on the number of persons under the age of 25 admitted to hospital in the Six Counties for alcohol related illness during 2003-2004 in circumstances in which a serious alcohol related illness was either the primary or secondary diagnosis, her Department has similar figures compiled over the past number of years; and if there has been an increase in admissions to our hospitals due to this abuse. [23797/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 to 130, inclusive, together.

Details of the number of admissions to Irish psychiatric units and psychiatric hospitals for alcoholic disorders are contained in the Activities of Irish Psychiatric Services from the Health Research Board. The most recent report is for 2003. The data show that 258 persons under the age of 25, representing 12% of all admissions, were admitted as a result of alcoholic disorders in 2003.

The hospital inpatient inquiry or HIPE system is the principal source of national data on discharges from acute hospitals in Ireland. The HIPE system records the clinical condition chiefly responsible for the patient's admission to hospital care. Excessive consumption of alcohol can be a strong contributory factor in a wide variety of medical and psychiatric conditions which themselves can be a reason for admission to hospital. It is not possible to identify in many cases whether excessive alcohol consumption may be the underlying cause of admission.

The results of the alcohol and injuries study commissioned by the health promotion unit of my Department are expected to be available in the coming months. The purpose of the study was to establish the extent of alcohol related problems in the accident and emergency departments of acute hospitals. The study is expected to provide further evidence of the incidence of alcohol abuse and resultant attendance at accident and emergency departments.

Following on a separate study by the HSE eastern region, measures have been identified to reduce and eliminate inappropriate presentations at accident and emergency departments by those with alcohol problems and provide more effective and responsive services to clients. These measures include establishing a targeted response to people with alcohol problems, both underlying and explicit, who present at accident and emergency departments. Currently, many accident and emergency departments do not have the capacity or processes to respond to the alcohol issues underlying many of the presentations. The HSE eastern region is setting up a pilot project in Dublin to put these measures in place to address the needs of patients and monitor their effectiveness.