Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1029. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to reopen a rehabilitation centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14769/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Keltoi facility was identified for use as an isolation facility for marginalised and vulnerable people during COVID-19 in Community Healthcare Organisation 9.

There are significant numbers of homeless and addiction service users in this area, particularly in Dublin North City and County. The area also has a high migrant health population living in overcrowded accommodation and quarantine accommodation.

It is important to state that all these cohorts have specific challenges and that they need individualised supports to be put in place if they are Covid positive, as they cannot isolate in their existing accommodation on public health grounds.

The HSE has advised that there is still a very significant ongoing demand for isolation in this facility and that it will be maintained as a Covid Isolation Facility for now. The HSE has assured me that the use of this facility as a Covid-19 response is being reviewed on a monthly basis.

I am happy to confirm that the HSE remain committed to enhancing the residential addiction services in this area including the reopening of the Keltoi facility once it is no longer required as part of the Covid-19 response.

It is vital that individuals receiving rehabilitation services from Keltoi are supported to continue their recovery path. I welcome that fact that the Keltoi counselling staff based in the HSE Stanhope Centre, are continuing to provide appropriate support services to clients under the Keltoi aftercare programme.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1030. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to increase the number of rehabilitation centres in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14770/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Health Research Board reports annually on the number of cases treated for problem drug and 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 €3.3 million for residential treatment services. Altogether, this funding will provide an additional 475 treatment episodes.

This funding includes 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. In addition, over €1.3 million is being provided for the establishment of a 20-bed residential therapeutic community for expectant women and women with children in the mid-west region, which will cater for 125 episodes per annum.

Further proposals to increase the provision of addiction treatment episodes will be considered in the context of the 2023 Estimates process.