Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Health the way drugs policy is being directed within his Department; if there is a dedicated unit; the number of staff that are in this unit; their current priorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20259/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Following the transfer of functions relating to the National Drugs Strategy to the Department of Health, a Drugs Policy Unit and a Drugs Programme Unit were established in the Department. The number of staff involved is 13.4 whole-time equivalents. In addition, there are 4 staff assigned to the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, who are also based in the Department.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details for each of the local and regional drugs task forces to include chairpersons and the number of Health Service Executive employees and their job titles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20260/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Each Local and Regional Drugs Task Force has a chairperson, who works on a voluntary basis, and a co-ordinator who is a HSE employee. In four Task Forces, the co-ordinator position is being filled on an acting up basis by the Task Force development worker, who is not a HSE employee. In the case of two Local Drugs Task Forces, the HSE is providing administrative support on a part-time basis. Details of the chairpersons and HSE employees are provided in the table below.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, interim; the position regarding the proposed national substance misuse strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20261/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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My responsibilities as Minister for State for Primary Care include overseeing the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. It aims to tackle problem drug use in Ireland through the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research, building on the progress which has been achieved to date. I will chair a meeting of the Oversight Forum on Drugs this week. Its main functions are to examine the progress being made under the National Drugs Strategy and to address any operational difficulties and blockages that arise.

A Steering Group, chaired by my Department, is working on the development of proposals on a National Substance Misuse Strategy. It is envisaged that their work will be concluded by the Autumn. Their recommendations will then be considered at ministerial level and subsequently submitted to Government.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Health the number of medical detox beds available for rehabilitating drug addicts; the location of these beds; the waiting time to access one of these beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20262/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Currently there are up to 23 medical detox beds available for rehabilitating drug users. Ten beds are located in St Michael's Ward, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, with a waiting time of 4 to 5 weeks. Nine to thirteen beds, depending on circumstances, are available in Cuan Dara, Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin, with a waiting time of 2 months.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Health the number of beds available for drug detox in community based residential detox units; the location of these beds; the number of persons currently on a waiting list for admission to this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20263/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by the HSE. I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy in the next few days.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health the number of needle exchange services that are currently operating here; the number of patients each service treated in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20264/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The HSE operates both fixed site needle exchange services and outreach services through mobile units and home visits in its four regions. Needle exchange services are also provided by a number of voluntary sector organisations. However, national data on needle exchange is not currently collated.

The HSE has established a Working Group on Needle Exchange to facilitate the management of such services. This Working Group has prioritised the provision of needle exchange services in areas outside Dublin where services are not currently available. In line with this, the HSE and the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) have agreed on proposals, supported by the Elton John AIDS Foundation, to roll out needle exchange services through Community Pharmacies. The training of participating pharmacists has been completed and the HSE has recruited a National Liaison Pharmacist who has recently taken up that post. It is envisaged that needle exchange services will begin in an initial group of pharmacies in the Autumn.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons that are on the methadone treatment programme here; the cost of this programme in 2010; if there is a programme in place to assist patients to come off methadone after a certain length of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20265/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The number of persons that were on methadone treatment at the end of May 2011 was 9,157. The full year cost in 2010 for community Pharmacist and GP involvement under the methadone programme was over €17.5m as set out in the table.

I have asked the HSE for details of other costs that are met within its overall budget for addiction services. The provision of methadone, to those assessed as suitable for such treatment, is an internationally recognised approach as a medium to longer term response that aims to achieve stabilisation and independent functioning for clients. I am aware of the desirability of moving people on from methadone use, where appropriate and possible, and I intend that increased focus will be put on the rehabilitation of problem drug users.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Health the services that are in place for adolescents under 18 years who are suffering from drug and alcohol addiction; the number of dedicated detox beds available for those under 18 years of age; the number of rehabilitation beds that are available to under 18 year olds around the country; the locations of same; the after care services that are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20266/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The majority of clients with opiate addiction do not require access to a residential setting but rather require access to a methadone detoxification programme in a community setting. This in the majority of cases facilitates a return to a stable lifestyle. There are no waiting lists for under 18s for a methadone programme as clients in this age cohort are seen as a priority for entry into treatment services.

The number of adolescent residential detoxification beds is 4, located in the Aislinn Adolescent Addiction Service, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny. It is important to put detoxification in context. It is not a stand alone treatment but rather an important component of a comprehensive bio-psychosocial treatment plan for an addicted teenager. This is in line with the Report of the Working Group on Treatment of Under 18s presenting to Treatment Services with Serious Drug Problems, 2005.

There are 18 adolescent residential rehabilitation beds, 12 in Aislinn, Ballyragget and a further 6 in Matt Talbot Adolescent Services, Cara Lodge, Enniskeane, Co Cork. The Aislinn facility primarily provides a residential service dealing exclusively with addiction issues, while Cara Lodge in the main provides community based services and has access to long stay accommodation to meet the needs of some clients.