Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:339 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children if there will be extra residential drug rehabilitation spaces provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21267/02]
Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.
The national drugs strategy 2001-2008, which was published last year, contains 100 actions, many of which are health-related. The strategy envisages that a range of treatment and rehabilitation options will be made available for drug abusers. This includes comprehensive residential treatment models incorporating detoxification, intervention, pre-treatment counselling, motivational work, therapeutic treatment and high-quality rehabilitation for abusers who wish to become drug-free.
A range of these services is already available across the country. Indeed, funding has already been made available for extra residential rehabilitation places under the strategy. For example, €700,000 was provided in 2002 for Matt Talbot services, a residential facility for the treatment of alcohol and drug misuse in young males between the ages of 14 and 18 years in the Southern Health Board area. My Department and the health boards are committed to the further development of a full range of services for drug abusers in line with the national drugs strategy. To this end a committee, chaired by the Deputy Secretary General of my Department, has been established to oversee the implementation of the health-related actions within the strategy.