Vol. 407 No. 6
184 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the funds he has made specifically available for the treatment of drug abusers; and if he proposes to significantly increase the level of funding in this area, in view of a recent survey which shows that a significant number of boys and girls in their midteens are drinking alcohol in the Cork city area and are also experimenting with cannabis, tranquilisers and LSD.
Services for the treatment of drug abusers are provided through acute hospitals at community level by the health boards and a variety of non-statutory agencies. Funding for these services is provided through the financial allocations to the hospitals and the health boards. In addition, additional funding is being made available from central funds for the Drug Treatment Board, Trinity Court, Dublin and from the national lottery towards the non-statutory agencies.
My Department keeps the matter under continuous review with these agencies and I am satisfied that the current level of funding for drug-related services is adequate to meet the requirements of the agencies involved.
