asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the seriously deteriorating situation in relation to heroin addiction in the Dublin area, he is satisfied that the facilities for treating addicts are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Heroin Addiction in Dublin.
19.
I accept that there has been a serious increase in the recent past in the number of young people abusing heroin in certain areas in Dublin. I am not satisfied that the existing treatment facilities are adequate to deal with this new problem. As an interim measure, the Eastern Health Board, with my approval, are taking steps to provide community-based facilities for drug abusers in the greater Dublin area. The Report of the Eastern Health Board Task Force on Drug Abuse is being examined at present. The board will be contacting my Department concerning the report's recommendations for the development of an integrated range of services to provide for the needs of people with drug problems.
The Deputy will of course be aware of the establishment of the Special Committee of Ministers of State to review the drug problem. The committee will be having particular regard to the problem in the Dublin area. I hope to have the committee's recommendations within five weeks.
Could the Minister give the House an idea of how many persons are regarded as heroin abusers in Dublin city and how many places are available in the relevant institutions for the treatment of these persons?
The statistics for 1982 show that a total of 2,804 patients attended Jervis Street Drug Advisory Centre during that year. Of this number, 893 were new patients and 1,904 — or 67.9 per cent of all patients — abused heroin.
Does the Minister have this information, or is he satisfied that the present facilities are adequate to cope even with that number? Is the trend increasing and does he expect another hundred or thousand patients during the present year? Could he give any indication of how the problem is being dealt with?
I have indicated that I am not satisfied with the present facilities. I have also indicated that the Government are taking this matter very seriously. They have set up a ministerial committee, of which I am chairman, which is working to get out a report on the matter as quickly as possible. We have also advertised in the newspapers for those who have an interest in this subject to send in their submissions. I am happy to say that we have received very good submissions and tremendous help and we will be making recommendations to the Government along those lines. I do not know if the problem will continue to escalate, but that would seem likely. I assure the Deputy that everything possible will be done to arrest this very serious situation.
The Minister of State has said that the Eastern Health Board are going to create community based facilities. Could he tell the House what these facilities will be? Also, is the Minister aware that Jervis Street Hospital facilities are totally inadequate to deal with the problem of drug addiction, particularly as there is no isolation unit for hepatitis and no rehabilitation unit in Dublin for those under 17 years of age. Would the Minister accept that the urgent need for a rehabilitation unit and isolation unit for hepatitis in Jervis Street is not dependent on a report from the committee? Will he take some action in advance of this committee's report to ensure that these facilities will be provided?
I accept that Jervis Street drug unit is obviously overcrowded. Also, they have not an isolation unit and patients have to be treated in Cherry Orchard Fever Hospital for hepatitis. It is desirable that the patients be treated in the hospital which they are attending. As the report will be before us pretty quickly, there is not much point in drawing up a line of action in advance of the committee's recommendations. I assure the Deputy that the report will not be delayed. This is a matter which concerns all sides of the House, co-operation has been forthcoming and I assure the Deputy that it is being tackled in that co-operative spirit.
I asked the Minister what community based facilities would be created by the Eastern Health Board.
I am sorry for not answering that question. There is a community based facility, a localised youth development project in Sherrard Street in north Dublin and proposals for one in Cork Street for the south inner part of the city of Dublin. £20,000 has been allocated for the first centre and money will be allocated for the second.
What will be done in these centres?
People who have particular drug problems will be provided with counselling services in these areas. They can then be referred to Jervis Street, or elsewhere if necessary. It is important that the projects be located in these locations to help to identify areas of problems.
Would the Minister agree that, having regard to the seriousness of the present drug problem, it might be necessary in the Eastern Health Board area to set up a number of residential centres where the more seriously addicted drug abusers could be rehabilitated? For those serious drug abusers, day care or advisory centres will be insufficient to do more than scratch at the surface of the problem.
As I indicated earlier, when we can really identify the problem in the sense of quantifying it, everything will be done to ensure that while eradication might be asking too much at least the problem will be contained.
A final supplementary, please, from Deputy De Rossa.
Could the Minister indicate if the ministerial task force intend to give us their proposals and if the Government will be making available resources to meet the costs?
I have asked that everything put before the committee be costed. The funding is a matter for the Government. The fact that they have set up this committee is an indication of how serious they consider the matter to be. I would hope that the money will be forthcoming and that is all that I can say.