Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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329. To ask the Minister for Health the number of alcohol related admissions to public hospitals for each of the past ten years; if he will provide this number as a percentage of total admissions; if he will provide an estimated cost of treating alcohol related illnesses for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37818/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Report of the National Substance Misuse Steering Group, 2012 reported that alcohol is associated with 2,000 beds being occupied every night in Irish acute hospitals, one quarter of injuries presenting to emergency departments and over half of attendances to specialised addition centres. The report further noted that alcohol-related illness cost the healthcare system €1.2 billion in 2007. The figure is taken from the report, 'Costs to Society of Problem Alcohol Use in Ireland', 2011.

The provision of services to treat alcohol related illness is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for their attention and will get back to you as soon as I have received the information requested.