Health Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (2138, 2417)

Thomas Gould

Question:

2138. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason gambling is not included in the recent drug and alcohol behaviour survey as previously indicated. [36654/21]

Thomas Gould

Question:

2417. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason gambling prevalence data from the Health Research Board will be presented to the Department of Justice and not his Department given this is most applicable to gambling addiction which falls under his remit. [37758/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Frankie Feighan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2138 and 2417 together.

The National Drug and Alcohol Survey (previously called the Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland Drug Prevalence Survey) is undertaken by the Health Research Board (HRB). It is a general population survey of households to measure the extent and pattern of drug and alcohol use among a representative sample of those aged 15 years and over in Ireland.

The HRB recent published findings on drug and alcohol use from the National Drug and Alcohol Survey 2019/20. The publication can be found at the following link: www.hrb.ie/publications/publication/the-2019-20-irish-national-drug-and-alcohol-survey-main-findings/returnPage/1/

The Department of Justice has responsibility for gambling policy and regulation. At the request of the Department of Justice, the HRB included a module on gambling in the 2014/15 survey and the 2019/20 survey. It is anticipated that the HRB will publish its report on gambling in October, 2021.