206. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to tackle gambling addiction; the amount of funding which has been provided by the HSE to gambling addiction support services in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and his plans to increase funding for these services. [23683/17]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Catherine Byrne): People who present to the HSE for addiction treatment for gambling are offered the same range of interventions as those who present with a drug and alcohol addiction, or a mental health concern, including an initial assessment, a comprehensive assessment, and individual counselling. Counselling and rehabilitation services provide care to those presenting with a gambling addiction through one to one counselling, financial advice and onward referral to other services and supports where appropriate, such as Gamblers Anonymous.

The HSE provides funding to a number of voluntary sector providers who, in addition to treating drug and alcohol addictions, also treat gambling addiction. However, it is not possible to identify the amount of funding which has been provided by the HSE specifically for the treatment of gambling addiction. According to the National Drug Treatment Reporting System, 208 cases were treated for gambling in Ireland in 2015, the latest year for which data is available.

I am informed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality that it remains her intention to proceed with gambling legislation at the earliest opportunity. The preparation of a Gambling Control Bill continues on that basis. However, it should be acknowledged that it will require some significant updating to take account of developments since 2013. The preparation of legislation will be a major and complex undertaking.