asked the Minister for Health the number of seminars and other projects related to alcoholism which have been held under the auspices of the National Council for Alcoholism in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - National Council for Alcoholism.
466.
No seminars related to alcoholism were held in the past year under the auspices of the Irish National Council on Alcoholism. However, the council's annual report for 1982 shows that it was closely involved in 231 seminars and other projects relating to alcoholism in that year as part of its educational activities.
467.
asked the Minister for Health, in view of the fact that there are 75,000 drinking alcoholics in the country, his intentions on reducing the consequent problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An extensive range of in-patient and out-patient treatment facilities is available through the psychiatric services for persons suffering from alcoholism. Increasingly, services are being provided on an out-patient basis within the community, thus reducing the demand and need for in-patient services. It would be my intention that the treatment services, which would involve preventive strategies, should continue to develop along these lines.
In addition, the Health Education Bureau has recently launched a special alcohol education programme for second level schools. The aim of the programme is to develop a responsible attitude in young people to the use of alcohol. The bureau have also devised an integrated programme of health education materials for use in second level schools. Substance abuse, which includes alcohol, is one of the subjects in this programme.