asked the Minister for Health the total number of people who have attended the drug treatment and advisory centre at Jervis Street Hospital, Dublin, for each calendar month since the advisory centre was opened.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drug Abuse.
31.
The information provided is in the form of a tabular statement, which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
NUMBERS of persons attending the Jervis Street Drug Centre each month since the Centre was opened in May, 1970.
|
Month |
1970 |
1971 |
1972 |
|
January |
— |
93 |
81 |
|
February |
— |
94 |
83 |
|
March |
— |
92 |
84 |
|
April |
— |
90 |
|
|
May |
35 |
89 |
|
|
June |
65 |
97 |
|
|
July |
59 |
88 |
|
|
August |
55 |
97 |
|
|
September |
69 |
77 |
|
|
October |
84 |
80 |
|
|
November |
80 |
82 |
|
|
December |
92 |
74 |
32.
asked the Minister for Health what plans, if any, his Department have for the provision of therapeutic beds in the Jervis Street clinic and advisory centre; if it intended to provide adequate staffing in that clinic; if a hostel for drug addicts who are undergoing or have undergone treatment will be established; and, if so, when.
The question of providing therapeutic beds in the drug unit at Jervis Street Hospital is not being considered. Discussions are, however, being held with the hospital authorities regarding the possible provision of a special unit for the detoxification treatment of cases of drug overdosage.
I understand that the Eastern Health Board is at present considering the provision of a small number of short-stay hostel beds for drug addicts, undergoing or after undergoing treatment, but no proposals have yet been submitted to me.
33.
asked the Minister for Health whether the Dundrum drug treatment unit, Dublin, is the only drug treatment centre in the country which has in-patient beds available; the total number of such beds available for drug abusers; and the total number of people who have been treated in this unit since it was opened.
Dundrum is the only centre where in-patient beds are provided specifically for drug treatment. In other health board areas in-patient facilities are provided, as required, in the district mental hospitals.
Regarding the final part of the Deputy's question, I would suggest that he address this inquiry to the Eastern Health Board which is responsible for the administration of the Dundrum unit.
Can the Minister state how many in-patient beds are available in Dundrum?
At the moment there are ten.
Why is the Minister not able to tell me the total number of people who have been treated for drug addiction since the unit was opened?
That is a matter for the Deputy to take up with the Eastern Health Board.
Having accepted responsibility in the Dáil for the drug problem, the Minister must be able to give these figures to Deputies when they ask for them.
I would wait until a certain period had elapsed so that I could ascertain the whole position.
Would the Minister now tell the House and the country when he intends to introduce legislation with regard to control of drug abuse?
If the Deputy asks me that question next week I will reply to him.
The Minister is not even polite enough to tell us when he proposes to introduce this legislation.
The Deputy may put down a question next week.
The matter does not arise on this question.
34.
asked the Minister for Health whether present drug abuse in this country concentrates more on hard drugs than is the case in countries with comparable drug problems.
Available information indicates that in this country there is little abuse of the opiates such as heroin and synthetic narcotics which are sometimes called the "hard" drugs.
Is the Minister not aware that there has been an increasing use of heroin in Dublin city since Christmas?
The Minister for Justice answered a question in relation to the activities of the Garda Síochána. The House was informed by the Minister for Justice that the use of heroin is very limited indeed. The principal drugs used at the moment are cannabis and LSD.