Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the drug related death index; the number of drug-related deaths here to date in 2008, and each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38670/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In 2005 the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform jointly requested the Health Research Board to establish the National Drug Related Deaths Index (NDRDI). The Index was established to comply with Action 67 of 'Building on Experience: National Drug Strategy 2001-2008': the Index is a census of drug and alcohol-related deaths and deaths among substance users in Ireland which is one of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addictions key indicators used to measure the consequences of the drug situation. The NDRDI database combines information from four sources: coronial records; hospital in-patient deaths (collected under the Hospital In-patient Enquiry Scheme); the methadone treatment database (Central Treatment List) and the General Mortality Register.

The Health Research Board will publish the first report of the NDRDI tomorrow (6th November 2008). The report will contain comprehensive data on drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users for the period 1998-2005 and I will arrange to have a copy of the report forwarded to the Deputy on publication.

The Health Research Board is currently collecting data for 2006 and 2007: however, data for 2008 are not available — due to a number of procedural issues in the Coroner's process, NDRDI data will always be a year to one and half years in arrears.

The publication of this report will mean that, for the first time, we will have accurate data on drug-related deaths and on deaths among drug users.