670. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to ban the use of Methoxetamine as a legal high. [21973/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall): Methoxetamine is a substance which is related to ketamine and its use is associated with hallucinations. Ketamine is a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. To date, in Ireland, a small number of samples found to contain methoxetamine have been seized by Gardaí. My Department works closely with the Department of Justice and Equality, the Gardaí, the Revenue Customs Service, the Forensic Science Laboratory, the Irish Medicines Board and others to monitor the emergence of new psychoactive substances with a view to bringing these substances under control where necessary. Approximately 200 substances were controlled in May 2010 and a further 60 in November 2011.