Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1927. To ask the Minister for Health the average wait time for persons to access gambling addiction counselling by quarter in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and the number of persons who accessed the service in tabular form. [19312/21]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1928. To ask the Minister for Health the average wait time for persons to access gambling addiction residential treatment by quarter in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 including the number of persons who accessed the service in tabular form. [19313/21]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1929. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who presented to the HSE with a gambling addiction in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, by month. [19314/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1927 to 1929, inclusive, together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to investigate the issues raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1930. To ask the Minister for Health if additional supports are put in place for established high-risk gambling times, for example, the Cheltenham festival. [19315/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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As previously advised, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the provision of addiction treatment services. It is often the case that gambling addiction is one of a number of addictions and or issues faced by an individual.

The HSE Addiction and Section 39 funded Services have been traditionally funded to treat problematic Drug and Alcohol use. Some cases of problematic gambling have been provided with treatment. Interventions including one to one counselling, financial advice and onward referral to other voluntary groups including Gamblers Anonymous.

Services have not been funded to develop a programme of interventions for problematic gambling. To provide additional services for gambling addiction would result in significant capacity issues and lengthening of existing waiting lists for people with drug and alcohol problems.

While I am supportive of drug and alcohol services that assist people with problem gambling, the Department has no funding available to it to support organisations that deal only with gambling addiction or problem gamblers.