Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1904. To ask the Minister for Health the mitigation strategy that was put in place for the closure of residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds due to Covid-19; the increase in waiting list times; and his views on the success of this plan. [19267/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Keeping people safe and operating services within the public health guidelines is key to curbing the spread of the virus and reducing the risk of infection for staff and clients. Several factors have impacted on waiting lists for drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds over the course of the pandemic. These include (a) a reduction reduced in capacity to comply with public health guidance, (b) restrictions on new entries, (c) closures due to outbreaks and (d) difficulties carrying out face to face assessments and validating waiting lists as many of the interactions are telephone only.

Several important initiatives have been introduced to restore and continue access to drug and alcohol services during Covid-19. The Department of Health has issued guidance on the continuation of addiction support groups and treatment programmes during COVID-19, including level 5. In addition, the Department has developed a 'Framework for the Restoration and Continuation of Drug and Alcohol services', in a planned and appropriate manner in line with public health advice. To support the Framework, I provided once-off funding of €480,00 in November 2020 for the restoration of drug and alcohol services including the adaptation of services, premises, online meetings, and personal protective equipment. In addition, the HSE has provided additional guidance to residential treatment services.

Unfortunately, the necessary safeguards have resulted in increases in waiting times for residential addiction treatment across the country ranging from an average of 2-6 weeks in some services to an average of 6-9 months in other services.

It is important to note that the HSE cannot change the capacity issues that have arisen due to the introduction of social distancing measures to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

I acknowledge the challenges faced by residential treatment service providers during Covid-19 and will continue to support service providers in restoring and continuing their services.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1905. To ask the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the Minister for State with responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy on the increased residential treatment waiting times. [19268/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The national drugs strategy commits to improving access to drug and alcohol services. The Department provides over €150 million to provide drug and alcohol services every year.

The Health Research Board reports annually on the number of cases treated for problem drug an alcohol use. In 2019, there were 10,666 cases treated for problem drug use and 7,546 cases treated for problem alcohol use. These data include 1,571 inpatient drug treatment cases, where the client attending the service stays overnight, e.g., in-patient detoxification, therapeutic communities, respite and step down, and 2,806 inpatient alcohol treatment cases.

In 2021, the Department of Health provided an additional €2 million for drug and alcohol treatment services. This funding will provide an additional 100 stabilisation treatment episodes as part of the North East Inner City initiative, a further 150 episodes nationally in tier 4 residential treatment services and 100 treatment episodes in a residential step-up treatment facility for CHOs 3, 4 and 5.

During Covid-19, the Government prioritised the restoration and continuation of drug and alcohol treatment services. Keeping people safe and operating services within the public health guidelines is key to curbing the spread of the virus and reducing the risk of infection for staff and clients.

Several factors have impacted on waiting lists for drug and alcohol detoxification over the course of the pandemic. These include (a) a reduction reduced in capacity to comply with public health guidance, (b) restrictions on new entries, (c) closures due to outbreaks and (d) difficulties carrying out face to face assessments and validating waiting lists as many of the interactions are telephone only.

Unfortunately, these necessary safe-guards have resulted in increases in waiting times for residential addiction treatment across the country ranging from an average of 2-6 weeks in some services to an average of 6-9 months in other services.

The HSE cannot change the capacity issues that have arisen due to the introduction of social distancing measures to deal with the Covid 19 pandemic. It is anticipated that the HSE will purchase all planned treatment episodes, including the additional episodes outlined above, this year.

The Minister for Health and I are fully committed to the provision of additional drug and alcohol treatment services. We acknowledge the challenges faced by service providers during Covid-19 and will continue to support service providers in the full resumption of services.