Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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973. To ask the Minister for Health the reasoning behind a change in narrative in the HSE national service plan with the addiction services section now referred to as drug and alcohol services and no commitment for any measures to address behavioural addictions; and if he or any of his Ministers of State were involved in this decision. [11977/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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As per the Health Act 2004 (as amended), the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan 2021 sets out the type and volume of health and personal social services to be provided in 2021. This includes the provision of drug and alcohol addiction treatment services.

The improvement of health outcomes for socially excluded groups in society is a key priority in the service plan. The HSE seeks to meet government commitments set out in the national drugs strategy Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery – A health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025, and the health-led approach to drug use in the Programme for Government.

The Department of Health is providing additional funding of €9m to support and enhance drug and alcohol services in 2021:

- Continue the roll-out of specific harm reduction approaches including support for the additional 700 people brought into opioid substitution treatment during COVID-19 and increase naloxone provision.

- Develop community based drug and alcohol services and family support services, including the Dublin North East Inner City initiative and the Galway alcohol service and services for pregnant and post-natal women.

- Expand services for women who use drugs and alcohol in a harmful way.

- In line with a health-led approach to drug use, co-lead on the phased implementation of the Health Diversion Programme with the DoH including the targeted expansion of SAOR screening and brief intervention and the roll-out of a national drug awareness campaign.

- Expand the capacity and availability of the HSE Drug and Alcohol Helpline.

- Establish a medically supervised injecting facility in Merchants Quay Ireland, subject to confirmation of planning permission.

- In agreement with DoH, support the development of an area-based approach to community health and wellbeing improvement with a particular focus on areas of deprivation with the implementation of a new community-based integrated alcohol services across primary and acute settings.

I believe the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant challenges for socially excluded groups, particularly those with complex health, addiction and mental health problems. I strongly support the commitment of the HSE to improve access to health services for people living with addiction, people who are homeless, and other vulnerable groups.