Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Finance his Department's annual spend on tackling problematic alcohol and illegal drug use respectively for each of the past three years. [20955/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the cost of managing issues arising from alcohol and drug misuse by officers of the Department. Departments do not contribute in any way to the actual cost of treatment programmes; the only cost incurred is in the payment of the appropriate rate of pay, while the staff member participates in a residential programme. While there are indirect costs in dealing with problematic alcohol-illegal drug use e.g. cost of personnel staff time, including the support of the Employee Assistance Service, these must be offset against the Department's responsibilities to its staff and the potential cost of reduced performance and the loss of valuable expertise if staff succumb to an addiction.

An updated Alcohol and Drugs Misuse Policy for the Civil Service (Circular 8/2009) was circulated on 30 April 2009. That policy is designed to facilitate Departments in addressing alcohol and/or drug misuse and supporting officers with problems relating to alcohol and/or drug misuse.