Vol. 457 No. 4
31 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health the number of drug-related deaths in the north inner city Dublin area over the last 12 months; the number that could have been avoided if adequate treatment facilities had been available: and the plans, if any, he has to remedy this appalling situation. [14707/95]
Limerick East): The information requested by the Deputy is not available. The difficulty in obtaining the information is that the death certificate issued by a medical practitioner may list the cause of death by clinical condition, rather than by the circumstances leading to the death. I am aware of various estimates of the number of deaths related to the misuse of drugs, but for the reasons given these cannot be validated.
I am aware that there are waiting lists for treatment in all of the Eastern Health Board's Community Drug Centres and at the Drug Treatment Centre, Pearse Street. The Eastern Health Board has under consideration proposals for the immediate expansion of services to reduce these waiting lists and to provide appropriate treatment to all who need it.
