Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will make a statement on recent figures published by the Health Service Executive which show that in 2007 there was a rise in alcohol consumption here for the first time in four years. [17825/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Earlier this year the Health Service Executive obtained provisional alcohol consumption data from the Revenue Commissioners which indicated an increase of 2.7% in per capita alcohol consumption for 2007 compared to 2006. The 2006 Census population figure was used in this calculation. The Central Statistics Office recently released its population estimate for 2007 which showed an increase on 2006. Based on this estimate, the per capita alcohol consumption rate seems to have increased by 0.21% in 2007 over 2006. This figure remains provisional pending final alcohol consumption data from the Revenue Commissioners later this year.

I remain concerned that the per capita alcohol consumption rate in Ireland is well above the EU average. Reducing our consumption levels is key to tackling alcohol related harm in Ireland. The Government will continue to identify, promote and support measures to achieve this aim.