Written answers
Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Department of Health
Addiction Treatment Services
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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794. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a detailed list of all addiction rehabilitation services currently available in the State; the name and location of each facility; the bed capacity; whether it caters for male, female, or mixed gender clients, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65139/25]
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
The Deputy may wish to consult a directory of drug and alcohol services per county on www.drugs.ie/services or an interactive map which provides contact details for 456 services and information on the types of treatment available on www.drugsandalcohol.ie/services_map
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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795. To ask the Minister for Health the current level of demand for addiction treatment and rehabilitation services in Ireland; the number of individuals entering treatment annually; the main substances involved; the regional variations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65140/25]
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The National Drug Treatment Reporting System (www.hrb.ie/publications/?filter-scheme-28=addiction-treatment) 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.
A key strategic priority of the National Drugs Strategy is to enhance access to, and delivery of, drugs services in the community. Demand for and access to services has increased during the period of the current strategy.
Data published in the 2024 National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) by the Health Research Board (HRB) shows that there was a record figure of 13,295 cases treated for problem drug use in 2024. This continues the upward trend in treatment cases and demonstrates the impact of the National Drugs Strategy in enhancing access to drug services, with an increase of 50% in cases since the strategy began in 2017.
The data shows that the demand for drug treatment is across all regions of the country, all age groups, men and women, people with children and those without, and those who are unemployed as well those in employment.
The report highlights key trends in problem drug use, which services are responding to in a dynamic and flexible way:
- an increase of 7.4% in the number of cases where cocaine was the main drug (to 39.8% of all cases).
- Cocaine was the most common drug reported in 2024, accounting for 39.8% of all cases, and a 7.4% increase from 2023 (5,289 versus 4,923 cases).
- Cocaine remains the most common main drug among new cases, accounting for almost one-half (46.8%) in 2024.
- For previously treated cases, cocaine accounted for 35.8% of cases, the highest number recorded to date.
- Opioids (mainly heroin) were the second most common main problem drug reported. The number of cases fell by 519, from 3,845 in 2023 to 3,326 in 2024.
- Heroin accounted for 84.9% of all opioid cases in 2024.
- Cannabis was the third most common main drug reported.
- The type of drug for which treatment was sought varied by age and this has changed over time.
- Among cases aged 19 years or under, cannabis was the main drug generating treatment demand.
- those aged 20–44 years, cocaine was the main drug generating treatment demand.
- Opioids were the main drug generating treatment demand among those aged 45 years or over.
- The proportion of new cases (never treated before) was 35.9%.
- The majority of cases were treated in outpatient facilities (70.1%).
Patterns of drug use are evolving, with more people using cocaine and benzodiazepines, and fewer dependent on opioids. It is also noticeable that polydrug use is increasing. Government has invested additional resources in services with high demand. Drug services are also demonstrating their responsiveness to changing patterns of drug use.
The vast majority of treatment services (80%) are provided in the community, either in out-patient facilities and in low threshold settings. These services are easier to access, have minimal waiting times, and can connect cases to primary healthcare services where this is required.
Further information is available at www.drugsandalcohol.ie/43052/1/HRB-NDTRS-Drug-Bulletin-Statlink-23.pdf.
I secured an additional €2 million to expand drug treatment services in 2025. This significant investment aims to improve access to services in underserved communities, promote evidence-based innovations in service design and delivery, and enhance services for people who use stimulant drugs and those who have a dual diagnosis with mental health. The funding was recently allocated to the six HSE health regions, with service priorities to be identified in consultation with Drug and Alcohol Task Forces and other relevant stakeholders.
I announced an additional €11 million in recurring funding for drugs and inclusion health services in Budget 2026. The allocation includes €4 million for service enhancement measures and will address regional disparities in availability of drug and inclusion health services, with a strong focus on the provision of services in disadvantaged and rural areas. It also aims to enhance prevention measures, including through early intervention measures to improve child health and wellbeing.
Further information on the budget announcement is available at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/press-releases/press-release-minister-for-public-health-wellbeing-and-the-national-drugs-strategy-announces-funding-for-drugs-and-inclusion-health-for-2026/.
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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796. To ask the Minister for Health the average waiting time for admission to residential addiction rehabilitation services; the measures being taken to address capacity constraints;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65141/25]
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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798. To ask the Minister for Health the number of addiction rehabilitation facilities that provide gender-specific programmes or services for women with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65143/25]
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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800. To ask the Minister for Health the number of residential addiction rehabilitation beds available specifically for women, including those that cater for women with children; the locations of these facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65145/25]
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 796, 798 and 800 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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797. To ask the Minister for Health the funding allocated to addiction rehabilitation services in 2025; the projected increase in funding under the forthcoming National Drugs Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65142/25]
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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799. To ask the Minister for Health the current demand for addiction treatment and rehabilitation services for women in Ireland; the number of women who accessed residential and community-based addiction services in each of the past three years; the number of facilities that provide gender-specific programmes or services for women with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65144/25]
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The National Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) reported on female treatment figures in 2024.
One in three (30.0%) cases entering drug treatment in 2024 were female. Eighteen cases
identified as non-binary or in another way. While the main problem drug was cocaine for males and females, the proportion for cocaine was higher among males (40.8% versus 37.5%).
Between 2017 and 2024 there was a 426.1% increase among females who have sought drug treatment for cocaine, from 284 cases in 2017 to 1,494 cases in 2024.
Females accounted for almost one-quarter (24.8%) of cases with cocaine as a main problem over the 8-year period. The proportion of female cases increased from 18.9% in 2017 to 28.2% in 2024, increasing more than five-fold in numbers over the period.
Among cases treated for the first time, females were older, had higher rates of unemployment, and had higher rates of problem opioid use.
In 2024, more than one-half of cases (52.1%, 6,932 cases) in drug treatment had children of any age. Of these, 8 in 10 (83.8%, 5,809 cases) were known to have children aged 17 years or under, of these cases, 62.6% were males and 37.3% were females.
In 2024, of those known to have children aged 17 years or under, 38.1% had at least one child residing with them at the time of treatment entry, while 61.9% had at least one child residingelsewhere.11, 12 A higher proportion of females entering drug treatment reported having dependent children and living with children. Males were less likely to be residing with their children.
Among females who sought drug treatment for the first time there was an increase of 318.7% from 2017 to 2024.
The number of females entering treatment for opioid use has fluctuated over the time period from 1,316 in 2017 to 1,050 cases in 2024. The median age of females increased
from 33 in 2017 to 38 in 2024.
Further information on treatment demand is available from HRB publications
Issues relating to the number of facilities that provide gender-specific programmes or services for women with children are service matters. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
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