Written answers

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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2832. To ask the Minister for Health the funding provided to the Hidden Harm strategy in 2020 and 2021 to date. [39335/21]

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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2833. To ask the Minister for Health the actions that have arisen from the Hidden Harm strategy. [39336/21]

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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2840. To ask the Minister for Health the supports in place to ensure a positive outcome for the child given that data from the most recent National Drug Treatment Reporting System indicates that half of those in treatment are a parent to a child and recognising the adverse childhood experience arising for the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39343/21]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2832, 2833 and 2840 together.

The 2020 data from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System were recently published by the Health Research Board. The data show that 25 per cent of cases in treatment have children, including 10 per cent with children living in the home.

Developing harm reduction interventions for children whose parents use drugs is an action in the national drugs strategy Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery (RHSR). Progress on actions relating to hidden harm, jointly delivered by the HSE and TUSLA, is set out in the published RHSR annual progress reports, the latest of which is the report for 2020. Further information on progress is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/4e5630-reducing-harm-supporting-recovery-2017-2025/.

I am very concerned with the impact of drugs on children and families, and this is a further justification for a health-led response to drug and alcohol addiction. I will ensure that the protection of children from the harms of drug use will be a strategic priority in the new action plan for the National Drugs Strategy 2021-2025.

Questions relating to funding of Hidden Harm are operational matters for TUSLA and the HSE.

Members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again able to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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2834. To ask the Minister for Health the intended timeline for implementation of sections 12, 13 and 18 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. [39337/21]

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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2835. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the full implementation of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. [39338/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2834 and 2835 together.

Of the 31 sections of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, there remain five substantive provisions that have yet to be commenced. Work on commencing the Act was halted in 2020 due to the pandemic and the drafting of legislation continues to be delayed due to pandemic related law taking precedence.

Section 4 of the Act relating to the grant or renewal of an intoxicating liquor licence requires the cooperation of the Courts Service and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and section 19 on a broadcast watershed relates to the work of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as well as the Environmental Health Service. My Department is working with these bodies to finalise arrangements for the enforcement of these sections.

Sections 12 and 13 on labelling and advertising require regulations which must be submitted at EU level for assessment of their alignment with Single Market principles. Work on the drafting of those regulations was suspended both in the Office of the Attorney General and in my Department due to the pandemic.

Section 18 on advertisements in publications can be commenced only after section 13 is finalised.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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2836. To ask the Minister for Health the funding given to rehabilitation and detox facilities by facility in 2019 and 2020 respectively, in tabular form. [39339/21]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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2837. To ask the Minister for Health the number of alcohol-specific rehabilitation and detox beds by facility in 2019 and 2020 respectively, in tabular form. [39340/21]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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2838. To ask the Minister for Health if he has engaged with residential treatment facilities with the intention of introducing secular-only healthcare. [39341/21]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The national health policy in relation to addiction is set out in Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery; A health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017 -2025.

Under the Health Act 2004, as amended, the HSE is responsible for the provision of health and personal social services including addiction services. The HSE either providers these services directly or contracts to have them provided on its behalf.

Organisations which provide addiction services and are funded by the HSE are required to meet minimum standards in the delivery of services across a range of criteria which form the basis of any service level agreement.

The Department has no jurisdiction over agencies that provide private addiction treatment services. There is currently no provision in legislation for the regulation or inspection of residential treatment or rehabilitation centres specialising in addiction.

I am committed to ensuring there is transparent monitoring and oversight of publicly funded drug and alcohol treatment services.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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2839. To ask the Minister for Health the number of HSE owned and run alcohol rehabilitation and detoxification beds in the State. [39342/21]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

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