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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 3

Written Answers. - Alcoholism Treatment Programme.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

98 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Eastern Health Board intends to close St. Dympnas, North Circular Road, Dublin 7, which is the only public residential unit in Dublin for persons suffering from alcoholism; if he will intervene to ensure that this facility is kept open; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In line with the recommendations contained in Planning for the Future, the Eastern Health Board are at present developing a community based alcoholism treatment programme with a number of treatment facilities based at strategic locations in the board's functional area. The emphasis in the programme will be on detoxification and treatment of alcoholism and after care. I have been informed by the Eastern Health Board that they have reviewed the operation of St. Dympna's Unit in the context of these developments and they have decided to transfer the residential component of the alcoholism service from St. Dympna's to an alternative location for the purposes of integrating it with the day treatment programme for alcoholism provided at the Stanhope Street Treatment Centre. It is the board's intention to develop St. Dympna's as a mental health centre to serve the general psychiatric services in the Cabra area. The purpose of this reorganisation is to make the board's alcoholism treatment services more accessible and to improve the board's overall community psychiatric services.

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