Written answers

Tuesday, 18 December 2018

Department of Health

Addiction Treatment Services

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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327. To ask the Minister for Health the number of new clients who have been granted access to naloxone to date in 2018. [52690/18]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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328. To ask the Minister for Health if regulations to allow for the introduction of buprenorphine naloxone, buprenorphine products have been agreed and introduced. [52691/18]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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On 22 November 2017, I signed the Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone and Medicinal Products containing Buprenorphine authorised for Opioid Substitution Treatment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 522 of 2017). The Regulations added certain buprenorphine medicinal products to the schedule of products which can be prescribed for opioid substitution treatment.

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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329. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the working group to progress increased access to buprenorphine naloxone and buprenorphine products. [52692/18]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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In January 2016, the Director General of the HSE submitted the final report of the Opioid Substitution Implementation Group to the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy. The report recommends the phased increased of access to buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) for groups of patients in specific circumstances, subject to resourcing and the required legislation being enacted.

New Regulations, the Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone and Medicinal Products containing Buprenorphine authorised for Opioid Substitution Treatment) Regulations 2017 came into effect on 22 November 2017. The purpose of these Regulations is to provide access to certain buprenorphine-based medicinal products for Opioid Substitution Treatment (including buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine only) on the same statutory basis as methadone.

The Department of Health provided additional funding to the HSE in 2018 to expand availability of buprenorphine/naloxone for those not suited to OST.

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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330. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the HSE training programme for addiction staff, level 2 general practitioners and pharmacists regarding buprenorphine naloxone and buprenorphine products. [52693/18]

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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331. To ask the Minister for Health the increase in addiction residential treatment beds and additional treatment episodes provided to date in 2018. [52694/18]

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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336. To ask the Minister for Health the average waiting time from referral to assessment for opioid substitution treatment. [52699/18]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 330, 331 and 336 together.

As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

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