509. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding alcohol abuse here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28119/14]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Alex White): The Report of the Steering Group on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, 2012 noted that the majority of Irish people drink in a harmful manner. The report further noted that the harms caused by the misuse of alcohol were estimated to cost the Exchequer €3.7 billion euros in 2007 representing 1.9% of Gross National Product that year. The figure is taken from the report Costs to Society of Problem Alcohol Use in Ireland, 2011. The estimate is based on the methods used in similar reports from other developed countries including the United Kingdom and used data from surveys and surveillance systems.