Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Health

Addiction Treatment Services

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1355. To ask the Minister for Health the current level of funding allocated to addiction services. [46474/24]

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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It is a strategic priority under the national drugs strategy to enhance access to and delivery of drug services in the community. There are five actions to support the implementation of the priority in strategic action plan 2023-2024.

Drug-related health expenditure in 2023 was over €161m. The approximate breakdown of expenditure on addiction services is as follows:

  • HSE addiction services 47%.
  • Community-based services 40%.
  • GPs and pharmacy 13%.

In 2024, I launched an interactive map of publicly-funded drug treatment and drug-related family support services, which can be accessed It features 442 services in receipt of public funding.

I announced additional funding of €4.2m in Budget 2025 (full year €5.4m) for the implementation of the national drugs strategy. The new initiatives in Budget 2025 will enhance access to and delivery of drug and alcohol services in the community, develop harm reduction responses and integrated care pathways for high-risk drug users, strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use among children and young people and minimise the harms of drug use for families and communities.

See budget factsheet available at the link below

I am committed to enhancing access to and delivery of drugs services in the community under the national drug strategy.

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1356. To ask the Minister for Health the number of addiction treatment centres, per county, including residential and outpatient services; and the demand for these services, per county, in tabular form. [46475/24]

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response.

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1357. To ask the Minister for Health what measures are in place to ensure that addiction services are accessible for all in rural and less-well-off communities. [46476/24]

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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It is a strategic priority under the national drugs strategy to enhance access to and delivery of drug services in the community. There are five actions to support the implementation of the priority in strategic action plan 2023-2024.

In 2024, I launched an interactive map of publicly-funded drug treatment and drug-related family support services, which can be accessed ). The online tool features 442 services in receipt of public funding. The map provides easily navigable information on local services for people looking to access services to address their drug or alcohol use, and for families and concerned others who are struggling to deal with a loved one’s drug or alcohol use. The map complements existing resources such as the drug and alcohol helpline and the drugs.ie website.

The publication of this interactive map of drug services is phase one of the audit of drug services being undertaken by the Dept of Health and the HRB. Phase two involves an analysis of current funding of drug treatment and drug related family support services and demand for same, based on:

  • Analysis of NDTRS, NDRDI and NDAS data to assess service demand.
  • Data merge with Pobal deprivation index as a proxy predictor of service demand.
  • Geomapping of data to provide funding offices with information to plan service delivery.

Many drug services have developed as a response to local demand, often under the auspices of drug and alcohol task forces. As a result, the model of service provision is fragmented and uneven. Access to services can often depend on geographical factors.

The intention is to engage statutory agencies that fund drug treatment services to (i) provide a snapshot of current funding levels and activities, and (b) to assist with gathering more detailed data on what is being provided in relation to the funding. NDTRS figures will also provide a measurement of activity levels.

The audit will map existing service provision against predicted treatment demand based on various data sources. This information can then be used to inform the planning and funding of drug treatment and family support services in the HSE health regions.

I am committed to enhancing access to and delivery of drugs services in the community under the national drug strategy.

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1358. To ask the Minister for Health if addiction treatment centres are collaborating with community organisations to improve the social determinants of health, such as housing, employment and education, that affect recovery outcomes. [46477/24]

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1361. To ask the Minister for Health how the Government is addressing the root causes of addiction, such as poverty, trauma, mental health issues and homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46480/24]

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1358 and 1361 together.

People from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds face a higher prevalence of physical disease, mental illness, and substance use, and are more likely to die prematurely. These health inequalities are rooted in the social determinants of health, where social exclusion worsens physical and mental health and increases vulnerability to problematic drug and alcohol use. Furthermore, poverty and social exclusion undermines the effectiveness of healthcare services by creating additional barriers to timely and integrated treatment.

The is a whole-of-government strategy to reducing the number of people in consistent poverty and to increase social inclusion for those who are most disadvantaged.

Additionally, the Government is committed to eradicating homelessness. Housing for All, the national housing plan, sets out the Government policy for reducing and preventing homelessness by 2030. This will be achieved by a housing-led approach as the primary response to all forms of homelessness. Eliminating homelessness will fundamentally address the social determinants of health for people who are homeless. The Housing First programme tackles long-term homelessness among people with complex health needs, including those in addiction, by providing them with stable tenancies as well as health and social supports.

The National Mental Health Promotion Plan is an important step towards achieving the vision for Healthy Ireland where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and well-being to their full potential, and where health is valued and supported at every level in society. There is compelling international evidence that focusing on mental health promotion can have positive effects on well-being as well as reducing risk for mental health difficulties. It responds to the need for population level mental health promotion, and it seeks to strengthen individuals and the communities where they live while addressing the structural barriers to good mental health at societal level.

The Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-25 has placed a priority on addressing health inequalities. The main action of which is the delivery of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme which is operational in 20 areas of highest deprivation across the state. The programme is a partnership between local authorities, local delivery partners and the HSE and deliver locally tailored interventions focusing on the social determinants of health.

I and the Government are committed to addressing the social determinants of health through cross-government policies on poverty, homelessness, mental health, Travellers and Roma.

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1359. To ask the Minister for Health how the Government measures the success and effectiveness of addiction services; the measures being taken to track long-term recovery rates; and if data are used to improve addiction services. [46478/24]

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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It is a strategic priority under the national drugs strategy to enhance access to and delivery of drug services in the community. There are five actions to support the implementation of the priority in strategic action plan 2023-2024.

The National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) is the national surveillance system that records and reports on cases of drug and alcohol treatment in Ireland. It is compiled annually to provide information on treatment demand and provides important data to allow services to deliver what is required.

NDTRS data for 2023, published by the Health Research Board, shows there were 13,104 cases in 2023 compared to 12,009 in 2022. The data also shows that the percentage of new cases (never treated before) was 36.6%. The majority of cases were treated in outpatient facilities (71.5%), and that cocaine was the most common drug reported in 2023, accounting for 37.6% (4,923) of all cases, a 20.5% increase from 2022 (4,084 cases). Among cases aged 19 years or younger, cannabis was the main drug generating treatment demand.

With regard to treatment outcomes, nearly one-third (29.5%) of cases successfully completed treatment and 12.2% were referred to other drug and alcohol services for continued support. However, 31.8% of cases did not return for subsequent appointments and 14.0% refused further treatment sessions.

Regarding drug prevalence, the Healthy Ireland Survey is an annual survey, conducted with a representative sample of the population aged 15 and older living in Ireland. The Healthy Ireland survey 2023, included, for the first time, a module on drug use prevalence. The data reported that 21% of respondents report lifetime illicit drug use; 7% report illicit drug use in the last year, and 3% report illicit drug use in the last month. The most prevalent illicit drugs used within the last year are cannabis (5.9%), cocaine (1.9%), ecstasy or MDMA (0.8%), magic mushrooms (0.8%) and ketamine (0.4%).

The objective of the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) is to provide high-quality data so that the State can respond in a timely manner with accurate data on drug-induced mortality. The NDRDI records cases of death by drug and/or alcohol poisoning (such as those due to accidental or intentional overdose), and deaths among people who use drugs and those who are alcohol dependent where the death was not due to poisoning (such as those due to hepatitis C and HIV).

The latest available data available for drug related deaths (2021) shows that there were 354 drug-induced deaths recorded in 2021, a decrease from 439 (24%) drug poisoning deaths in 2020 and 375 deaths in 2019.

Budget 2025 provides an additional €4.2m to expand community-based drug and alcohol services to meet increased treatment demand, with a focus on improving access to services in underserved communities, promoting evidence-based innovations in service design and delivery, and meeting the needs of people who use stimulant drugs, and those who have a dual diagnosis. Further information is available here: ).

I am committed to enhancing access to and delivery of drugs services in the community under the national drug strategy.

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1360. To ask the Minister for Health his top three priorities for improving addiction services over the next five years. [46479/24]

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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The national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, is a health-led response to drug and alcohol use, which runs from 2017 to 2025. The strategic action plan relating to the strategy for 2023-2024 contains 34 actions across six strategic priorities. The Department of Health has commissioned an independent evaluation of the strategy which is expected to be completed in early 2025.

The Dept of Health is preparing a new national drugs strategy, with the intention to finalise a draft of the new strategy in the first half of 2025.

The new strategy will be informed by the Programme for Government, the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, consultations with key stakeholders and developments in the EU drugs strategy, including the remit of the new EU Drugs Agency.

It is my ambition that the next national drugs strategy will create a society where the reasons why people use drugs are addressed, the harms associated with drugs are reduced, and recovery from drug addiction is supported.

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