Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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315. To ask the Minister for Health if the Government has any plans to reintroduce the medication ozempic, for treatment for diabetes, to be covered under the medical card scheme or the drug payments scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52632/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister recognizes the ongoing need for a public health response to address harmful alcohol use. The Department of Health provides over €130 million to drug and alcohol services every year.

According to the National Drug Treatment Reporting System 2015-2021 Alcohol Data published in July 2022, in 2021 there was a total of 6,859 cases treated, 44% (3026) were new cases and 52% (3596) were previously treated cases. In 2021 60% (4183) of cases were treated in outpatient facilities, up by 678 cases when compared to 2020, while there was 2102 (31%) inpatient cases, up 422 from 2020.

In Budget 2022 €487,000 was secured to provide for a Tier 2 Clinical Community Response to Alcohol Service in CHO 9, and €180,000 for a Tier 3 Alcohol Treatment service to support the NEIC Initiative.

In 2020, €469,600 was secured for the establishment of a Galway Community Alcohol Addiction Treatment Service to target adults with alcohol-related problems, living in the Galway City area. The service was set up to fill a gap in service provision arising from the reorganisation of alcohol services in Galway.

Finally in December 2021, Minister for State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan TD, announced a €2 million fund to enhance community-based drug and alcohol services. The Community Service Enhancement Fund (CSEF) is part of the strategic priority to enhance access to and delivery of drug and alcohol services in the community in the national drugs strategy 2021-2025.