Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 594 together.

Following an Expert Group recommendation that the same regulatory framework which applies to methadone should apply to products containing buprenorphine/naloxone or buprenorphine for opioid substitution treatment (OST) an Opioid Substitution Implementation Group (OSIG) was established by the HSE in 2013. The purpose of this Group was to report on the steps required to introduce, supervise, monitor, and review the wider availability and cost of buprenorphine products.

The Group's Report in 2016 recommended the phased increased access to Buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine products for a cohort of patients in specific circumstances, subject to the required legislation and resourcing.

Drafting of legislation is currently being finalised by my Department with technical support from the HSE. It is expected that this legislation will be finalised in the coming weeks.

In 2017 the HSE received additional funding of €0.75 million to increase access to buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine products as an alternative treatment for the identified cohorts of patients for whom methadone treatment is not suitable.