Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
903. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the engagements undertaken by the Minister for State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy in relation to rehabilitation and detox residential treatment waiting times. [21343/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Drugs Strategy ‘Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery’ sets out the Government’s strategy to address the harm caused by substance misuse in Ireland up to 2025. The Department of Health provides over €150 million to drug and alcohol services every year to support the strategy.
The Health Research Board reports annually on the number of cases treated for problem drug and alcohol use. In 2019, there were 10,666 cases treated for problem drug use and 7,546 cases treated for problem alcohol use. This data includes 1,571 inpatient drug treatment cases, where the client attending the service stays overnight, e.g., in-patient detoxification, therapeutic communities, respite, and step down, and 2,806 inpatient alcohol treatment cases.
It is important when looking at waiting lists for drug and alcohol services to be aware of the impact COVID-19 had on society and particularly on drug and alcohol service provision. Several factors have impacted on waiting lists for drug and alcohol detoxification over the course of the pandemic. These include (a) a reduction in capacity to comply with public health guidance, (b) restrictions on new entries, (c) closures due to outbreaks and (d) difficulties carrying out face to face assessments and validating waiting lists as many of the interactions are telephone only.
Unfortunately, the necessary Covid-19 safeguards have resulted in increases in waiting times for residential addiction treatment across the country ranging from an average of 2-6 weeks in some services to an average of 6-9 months in other services. The HSE cannot change the capacity issues that have arisen due to the introduction of social distancing measures to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Notwithstanding the limitations of Covid-19, the Department of Health provided an additional €2 million for residential drug and alcohol treatment services in 2021. This funding will provide an additional 100 stabilisation treatment episodes as part of the North East Inner City initiative, a further 150 episodes nationally in tier 4 residential treatment services and 100 treatment episodes in a residential step-up treatment facility for CHOs 3, 4 and 5. In addition, over €1.3 million is being provided for the establishment of a 20 bed residential therapeutic community for expectant women and women with children in the mid-west region, which will cater for 125 episodes per annum.
In summary this €3.3m in additional funding will provide an additional 475 treatment episodes this year.
Several important initiatives have been introduced to restore and continue access to drug and alcohol services during Covid-19. The Department of Health has issued guidance for the operation of drug and alcohol support groups and treatment programmes during COVID-19, including in level 5.
In addition, the Department has developed a 'Framework for the ‘Restoration and Continuation of Drug and Alcohol services', in a planned and appropriate manner in line with public health advice. To support the Framework, the Department provided once-off funding of €480,000 in November 2020 for the restoration of drug and alcohol services including the adaptation of services, premises, online meetings, and personal protective equipment. In addition, the HSE has also provided guidance for the safe delivery of residential treatment services.
I am fully committed to the provision of drug and alcohol treatment services. I acknowledge the challenges faced by service providers during Covid-19 and will continue to support service providers to fully resume services.
