Addiction Treatment Services

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

Questions (702)

Thomas Gould

Question:

702. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the allocation given to addressing problem gambling in budget 2021. [31497/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Department of Justice and Equality has responsibility for gambling regulation.

The Health Service Executive has responsibility for the provision of addiction treatment services. People who present to the HSE for treatment for problem gambling are offered the same range of interventions as those who present with a drug and alcohol addiction, or a mental health concern, including an initial assessment, a comprehensive assessment, and individual counselling.

Separate funding is not provided to addiction services to develop a programme or intervention specifically for problem gambling.

I can confirm that an additional €4 million was provided for drug and alcohol services in Budget 2021.