Louise O'Reilly
Question:1641. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided to tackle problem drinking and alcohol addiction in 2017; and the estimated amount to be provided in 2018. [33880/18]
View answerTuesday, 24 July 2018
Questions (1641, 1642, 1643, 1783, 1877)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:1642. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided to tackle drug addiction in 2017; and the estimated amount to be provided in 2018. [33881/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:1643. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided to tackle gambling and gambling addiction in 2017; and the estimated amount to be provided in 2018. [33882/18]
View answer
Dessie Ellis
Question:1783. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the cost each year over the next eight years of the implementation of the Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery strategy addressing the harm caused by substance misuse in society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34849/18]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:1877. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the annual budget allocated in 2017 and 2018 for the implementation of Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery: A Health-led Response to Drug and Alcohol Use in Ireland 2017-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35322/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1641 to 1643, inclusive, 1783 and 1877 together.
The Department of Health provided €93.1m to the HSE in its 2017 allocation for the provision addiction services. An additional €6.5 million for drug-related actions was secured in Budget 2018, to support the implementation of the national drugs and alcohol strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery: A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025. This additional funding is being used to expand the availability of drug and alcohol treatment services and to improve health services for drug-users who are homeless.
The monies outlined above are for the provision of addiction treatment services. It is not possible to identify the proportion specifically spent on individual additions. People presenting to the HSE for drug addiction or gambling addiction are offered the same range of interventions, as those with alcohol problems.
I strongly believe that resources should be directed towards interventions that are most effective in reducing problem substance use. Measuring the effectiveness of responses to the drug and alcohol problem is therefore an important objective of public policy. Towards this end, my Department will develop a performance measurement system by 2020 which will improve accountability across all sectors, including the task forces.