Written Answers Nos. 192-201
192. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the methadone maintenance programme is successful in treating the estimated 20,000 heroin addicts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26475/15]
View answer193. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the initiatives that have been developed and undertaken by his Department to bring the estimated 10,000 heroin addicts outside of treatment into treatment programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26476/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports that methadone is the most commonly prescribed substitution treatment for problem opiate use in Europe. In conjunction with other services and supports, methadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that provides a pathway to recovery for the individual affected by problem substance use.
The latest figures from the HSE indicate that over 9,890 clients were receiving methadone maintenance treatment at the end of April 2015. The National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol is currently undertaking a survey which will provide an up-to-date estimate of the current number of heroin users, as the most recent national estimate dates back to 2006. The results of the survey are expected later this year.
Harm reduction interventions, which include methadone maintenance treatment and needle exchange services, are an important component of the response to problem substance use as such interventions encourage problem substance users to engage with, and avail of, drug treatment services. The expansion of needle exchange outside Dublin with the support of funding from the Elton John Aids Foundation, has resulted in the recruitment and training of over 130 community pharmacies. During 2014, over 42,000 packs containing over 240,000 needles were given out.
Additional funding of €2.1 million was provided in the HSE budget for 2015 for a series of measures targeting vulnerable problem drug users, including an additional 53 beds in residential treatment and rehabilitation facilities creating 439 treatments. This year, the Government has also stepped up the efforts to reduce drug-related deaths and near-fatal drug poisonings. The HSE Naloxone pilot project which is currently underway involves 600 patients receiving take-home Naloxone and the provision of training to lay persons, such as the family and friends of a drug user, in the administration of a Naloxone injection to overdose victims. Naloxone is an antidote used to reverse the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, morphine and methadone in overdoses.
Those struggling with drug problems may have multiple needs, such as poverty, housing, poor health and education, which require multiple interventions involving a range of different agencies. The National Drugs Rehabilitation Framework, which is currently being rolled out across the country, aims to ensure continuity of care for recovering drug users by promoting a client-centred approach to rehabilitation, based on shared care planning.
195. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the medicinal based alternatives available to heroin addicts seeking treatment who do not wish to avail of methadone and-or for when it is contra-indicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26478/15]
View answer197. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the implementation of the recommendations of the buprenorphine implementation group; the reason they have not yet been implemented, notwithstanding that they were completed and published several years ago; if he is satisfied with this level of delay; the barriers to their full implementation; the steps he has taken to address these barriers; if he is prepared to fast-track their implementation in the interests of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26480/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 197 together.
Government policy in relation to drugs emphasises the need to provide opportunities for people to move on from illicit drug use to a drug-free life where that is achievable. However, every person with a drug problem has their own individual needs and their own personal goals for recovery.
An Expert Group, set up by my Department in 2006, examined the regulatory framework required to facilitate the prescribing, dispensing and supply of buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine-only products as alternatives to methadone. In 2011, this Group concluded that methadone is the drug of first choice in the treatment of opioid dependency, but that buprenorphine/naloxone may be more appropriate for particular cohorts of clients.
The HSE established an Opioid Substitution Implementation Group in June 2013 to develop a plan for facilitating the wider availability of buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine-only products as alternatives to methadone. The Group submitted a draft report to the Director General of the HSE on 4 June 2015. The Group is expected to report to the Minister of Health shortly.
196. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total spend on the national drugs strategy in each of the years 2009 to 2014; the estimated spend for 2015; his views that the strategy is successful in treating heroin addiction; his views on the results and outcomes from the methadone maintenance programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26479/15]
View answerThe European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports that methadone is the most commonly prescribed substitution treatment for problem opiate use in Europe. In conjunction with other services and supports, methadone maintenance treatment is a critical stabilising treatment that provides a pathway to recovery for the individual affected by problem substance use. The latest figures from the HSE indicate that over 9,892 clients were receiving methadone maintenance treatment at the end of April 2015. Retention in methadone treatment is generally considered a positive goal in service provision.
Treatment interventions, including methadone maintenance, have been shown to result in reduced drug use, as well as improved health and social outcomes for clients, and a reduction in drug-related crime. Harm reduction interventions, such as needle exchange, also result in better health outcomes for clients, reducing the incidence of blood-borne viruses. There is clear evidence that having access to drug treatment is one of the main factors in reducing drug-related deaths.
Details of the expenditure attributable to drugs programmes from 2009 to date, as well as the estimated allocation for 2015, are outlined in the following table. The decrease in HSE expenditure in 2011 compared to 2010 arose due to savings achieved as a result of the public service pay cut, HSE staffing redundancies and a reduction in funding to Voluntary and Community Agencies. Further savings were identified by the HSE in 2014 and these have been taken account of in determining the 2015 allocation. I am advised by the HSE that frontline services have been maintained and no reductions have been made to existing services in 2015.
The reduction in the Department of Health allocation in 2014 and 2015 respectively reflects the fact that the Department transferred €21.04m in funding relating to Drug and Alcohol Task Force projects to the HSE on 1st January 2014, with a further €1.02m transferring on 1 January 2015.
|
Department/Agency |
2009 (€m) |
2010 (€m) |
2011 (€m) |
2012 (€m) |
2013 (€m) |
2014 (€m) |
2015 (€m) |
|
HSE Addiction Services |
104.867 |
105.400 |
92.878 |
89.368 |
90.392 |
86.122 |
86.279 |
|
HSE Drug and Alcohol Task Force Projects |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
21.570 |
22.593 |
|
An Garda Síochána |
45.004 |
44.500 |
45.014 |
45.850 |
44.000 |
43.000 |
43.000 |
|
D/Children & Youth Affairs |
28.501 |
25.740 |
24.987 |
22.730 |
20.310 |
19.548 |
19.548 |
|
D/Justice & Equality |
14.801 |
14.478 |
18.681 |
18.580 |
18.553 |
18.762 |
18.928 |
|
Revenue Customs Service |
15.867 |
15.797 |
15.470 |
14.241 |
14.624 |
16.235 |
16.235 |
|
D/Social Protection (former FÁS area) |
18.800 |
18.000 |
15.634 |
11.859 |
13.434 |
14.063 |
13.702 |
|
D/Health |
40.326 |
35.755 |
33.554 |
32.376 |
30.524 |
8.280 |
7.350 |
|
Irish Prison Service |
5.000 |
5.200 |
5.200 |
5.000 |
4.500 |
4.200 |
4.285 |
|
D/Education & Skills |
3.643 |
2.461 |
0.411 |
0.815 |
0.810 |
0.748 |
0.746 |
|
D/Environment, Community & Local Government |
0.461 |
0.461 |
0.400 |
0.200 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
277.270 |
267.792 |
252.229 |
241.019 |
237.147 |
232.528 |
232.666 |
198. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health if there is currently an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a baby (details supplied) in Limerick Regional Maternity Hospital in 2007; the current status of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26489/15]
View answerThe University Maternity Hospital Limerick, in consultation with the family concerned, has agreed to undertake a preliminary review of the medical records surrounding this tragic event in Regional Maternity Hospital Limerick in December 2007.
The purpose of the preliminary review is to decide whether a more in-depth investigation of this case is required. The preliminary review has now commenced and is expected to be completed within 4/5 weeks.
199. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will have a decision on an application for a medical card which was submitted in early April 2015. [26492/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
200. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive a reply to their application for a medical card submitted in May 2015. [26493/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
201. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the waiting times for autistic children in Dublin 15, with many reports of waiting times of over 18 months for basic and necessary care for speech and language, physiotherapy and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26506/15]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
