139.  Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children further to the recent amendment by the Irish Medicines Board for the authorisation of Buprenorphine to be allowed to be prescribed by general practitioners with specialist training, the timeframe for her considerations of this authorisation; if there are obstacles;[35939/06]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney): I am aware that the drug Buprenorphine (trade name Subutex) is being proposed as an alternative to methadone in the treatment of opiate dependent addicts. The current position is that Buprenorphine can be prescribed to opiate users by addiction service consultants in specialist drug treatment clinics, where the prescription and dispensing of Buprenorphine is tightly controlled. The Irish Medicines Board has recently amended the authorisation for Buprenorphine to allow it to be prescribed by General Practitioners who have specialist training in its use. My Department is considering the implications of this revised authorisation, especially in view of the diversion potential of Buprenorphine. I am informed that the combination drug Naloxone/Buprenorphine may be available in the EU towards the end of 2006, and that preliminary studies have shown that the combination drug is as effective as Buprenorphine alone in the management of opioid dependence and that it has less abuse potential.

Vol. 626 No. 5 Written Answers Thursday, 2 November 2006