Written answers

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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877. To ask the Minister for Health the additional resources his Department will make available to tackle effectively the substantial increase in drug misuse by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9862/21]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health does not collect data on drug misuse by county. The HSE has responsibility under the Health Act 2004, as amended, for the provision of health and personal social services including addiction services.

I have asked the HSE to provide a breakdown of the funding for addiction services by Community Healthcare Organisation, in tabular form and to reply directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Several important measures were introduced in 2020 to improve access to drug and alcohol services. These measures include the recruitment of four drug and alcohol liaison midwives to support pregnant women, the commencement of a residential treatment services for women with children in the mid-west and south regions, and the commencement of a community-based alcohol treatment service in Galway. The full year costs of implementing these measures are €2.1m in 2021.

Budget 2021 allocated €10m in new developments for drug and alcohol services and inclusion health. €4 million of this funding has been provided to enhance drug and alcohol services and address substance misuse.

This funding has been allocated as follows:

- €1m to develop targeted drug and alcohol initiatives through the network of drug and alcohol task forces, and to increase core funding for existing services.

- €2m to increase residential treatment services for people with severe drug and alcohol dependency across the country, including a step-up stabilisation facility in CHOs Cork/Kerry, Mid-West and South East and a low threshold programme in Dublin North East Inner City

- €700,000 to expand community and family support services, including initiatives in Donegal/Leitrim/Sligo, Louth/Meath, Cork/Kerry, and Dublin North Inner City

- €400,000 for harm reduction initiatives, including pilot drug monitoring at festivals and the night-time economy, expanded access to the drugs and alcohol helpline and increased provision of naloxone.

It is my intention that the €1m for targeted drug and alcohol initiatives will be directed towards new and emerging needs, informed by the mid-term review of actions in the national drugs strategy, and delivered in conjunction with drug and alcohol task forces. I will announce details of the new funding in due course.

The HSE has significantly improved access to opioid substitution treatment since January 2020 in response to Covid-19. As a result, an additional 905 people in receipt of OST at the end of January 2021 when compared with January 2020 representing an 8.64% increase. Budget 2021 provided a further €4.2 million to continue these measures in 2021.

In addition, €11m will be provided in 2021 to meet the complex health needs of people who are homeless, including those in addiction, arising from Covid-19.

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