asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have so far died from AIDS in Ireland; the number who have contracted the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
55.
Written Answers - AIDS Strategy.
17.
asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement regarding his plans for further development of the Government's AIDS programme, including in particular his plans for ensuring that the most vulnerable groups affected are reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
189.
asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made regarding the provision of needles to heroin addicts along with an expansion of the methadone programme to help prevent the spread of AIDS; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 55 and 189 together.
To date, 35 cases of AIDS have been reported and there have been 16 deaths. The Government's AIDS strategy in 1988 will identify particular groups for special attention while continuing the information programme aimed at the general public. We will continue to provide information to the general public particularly through poster advertising, the National AIDS telephone service and through the AIDS information booklet.
Sixty per cent of identified HIV positive individuals are IV drug abusers. This is the group in which the infection appears to be spreading most quickly. It is also the category from which the majority of new cases are coming. One to one contact with addicts will prove the most effective way of motivating personal behavioural changes. I have already provided drug agencies with money to enable them to expand their outreach programmes and further substantial funding is being provided this year for major activities, including an outreach pilot project to be run by the Eastern Health Board. This will include research into the drug culture, with particular emphasis on how intravenous drug abusers are responding to the AIDS threat.
The priority is to implement the expanded outreach service effectively. The threat to public health which is emerging from the rapid spread of HIV infection among intravenous drug abusers also requires the closest evaluation of other measures, such as needle exchange and methadone maintenance, which might serve to reduce further the serious risks to health. These will be examined when more information about their validity is available when their value in the context of Ireland's particular drug culture may be assessed.
The appropriate measures designed to provide information about AIDS to secondary school pupils are under discussion between the Department of Health and the Department of Education at present.
In the meantime, to meet the needs of pupils leaving school in the present academic year, directors of community care and medical officers of the health boards were asked some months ago to co-operate with local school authorities to ensure that such education is provided to those pupils.