Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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208. To ask the Minister for Health the increase in the reported use of heroin in the Galway area in the past four years; the steps being taken to deal with this problem; the social programmes being run focusing on the cause of heroin use, particularly among the young; the increase in resources granted to the local drugs task force in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9738/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has noted a recent increase in referrals to the Methadone Treatment Clinic in Galway, but has not seen any evidence of an increase in heroin use among young people. The HSE has approved additional clinic hours to cater for the increase in client numbers.

Over €500,000 has been allocated by the HSE this year to the Jigsaw programme in the Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force area. This programme is designed to identify substance misuse issues at an early age and provide targeted health and psychosocial supports to young people affected by problem substance misuse. Other workers in the area, funded by the HSE, deliver education and prevention programmes to service providers who work with young people, communities and families. The HSE Drugs Counselling Service also caters for young people from the age of 16 upwards.

The budget allocation for the Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force for each of the years referred to by the Deputy is set out in the table hereunder. The reduction in my Department's allocation in 2014 reflects the fact that over €524,000 in funding relating to Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force projects was transferred from the Vote of my Department to the HSE on 1 January 2014.