Vol. 352 No. 5
asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the recommendations of the Eastern Health Board regarding the provision of a special therapeutic model for the rehabilitation of heroin addicts particularly the very young living in disadvantaged areas; and the definite steps that will now be taken to provide this essential centre for rehabilitation.
169.
asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the definite steps that will be taken to expand the resources available to the Jervis Street drug unit.
170.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to improve services for drug addicts.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 168, 169 and 170 together.
The Special Governmental Task Force on Drug Abuse made a number of recommendations last September concerning treatment facilities for young people with drug related problems. The task force recommended that a new purpose-built, walk-in facility be provided for drug abusers on the Jervis Street site when the general hospital is transferred to Beaumont. The new general hospital at Beaumont is scheduled to open in July 1985. Discussions are being arranged between my Department and the Jervis Street authority on the question of the disposal of a greater part of the existing hospital site and the provision of a purpose-built, out-patient drug centre.
In the meantime, I have made a capital grant available to the Jervis Street authority which is to be used to modify existing accommodation arrangements at the drug unit. This will make more space available for patient care at the unit.
The task force also recommended that a bed facility with the necessary back-up services — including detoxification — should be provided at St. James's Hospital. Discussions have taken place between representatives of my Department, the Eastern Health Board and St. James's Hospital Board and a joint project team representative of the Department and St. James's Hospital has been established to plan the proposed service.
Further recommendations were made by the task force concerning the provision of a therapeutic community regimen, on a pilot basis, which would be relevant to the requirements of young drug abusers from socially and educationally deprived backgrounds particularly those in the 12-16 year age group. I have made a sum of £35,000 available to the Eastern Health Board to provide larger alternative accommodation for the Talbot Day Centre, currently situated in Sherrard Street. The enlarged accommodation will enable the centre to provide for drug abusers in the following categories: (a), 12-16 year olds; (b), unmarried mothers; (c), unmarried pregnant girls.
The health board has also been considering the need for additional facilities for the group referred to by the task force and has made some recommendations to me in this regard which I am examining and would hope to be in a position to respond to shortly.
Finally, the task force recommended that my Department enter into discussions with the Coolemine Therapeutic Community to identify the additional resources which the community would need to enable it to meet the demands for services which are made upon it. These discussions have taken place and I have made additional funds available to the Eastern Health Board to meet the community's additional requirements this year.
171.
asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied at the efforts being made by health boards to combat drug abuse.
I have already outlined the services provided by health boards for drug abusers in reply to a question from Deputy Gregory on the 12 April 1984. My Department is making every effort to ensure that the development of services for drug abusers will keep apace with the demand for these services particularly in the greater Dublin area, where the problem of serious drug abuse is largely concentrated.
