Vol. 448 No. 6
79 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 who was stabbed by another child with a dirty needle discarded by a drug addict in a north inner city flats complex; the action, if any, he proposes to take in the face of an increasing heroin problem in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2556/95]
Limerick East): The Eastern Health Board, which has primary responsibility for the provision of services for drug misusers in the area in question, is unaware of the alleged incident to which the Deputy refers.
I also understand from my colleague, the Minister for Justice, who has overall responsibility for combating drug trafficking, that she has been informed by the Garda authorities that no report was made to them of a child having been injured by a dirty syringe.
I would point out to the Deputy that methadone maintenance, as well as a range of other services, is provided for drug misusers from the area in the Eastern Health Board's satellite clinic in Amiens Street. A total of 131 persons are on methadone maintenance and it is proposed to extend this service during February by opening the clinic for methadone maintenance in the afternoons. The board also provides needle exchange at its health centres at Summerhill and North Strand.
