782. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the provision of nurse prescribing of opioids. [39248/22]

Minister of State at the Department of Health Frank Feighan: Goal 2 of the National Drug Strategy sets out to minimise the harms caused by the use and misuse of substances and promote rehabilitation and recovery. The strategy recognises that people who inject drugs are a particularly vulnerable population that are susceptible to harm and need carefully managed supports to enable them to attain stability and a safer and healthier life.

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic people with substance misuse issues and including those dependent on opioid substitution treatment were classed as group at high risk of catching the virus.

The HSE’s priority during the COVID-19 crisis was to continue to deliver Opioid Substitution Services and to ensure everybody waiting commenced appropriate treatment.

This work is continuing and in Budgets 2021 and 2022, I secured significant additional funding of €17 million to support the implementation of the health actions in the national drugs strategy. Further resources of €10 million were provided to meet the health needs of people experiencing homelessness and addiction during the Covid-19 pandemic. An allocation of €4 million was provided to support the expanded access to opioid substitution treatment for people who use drugs during Covid-19.

Among other things, the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) in my Department provides policy advice to me and my Department across a broad range of areas, including nurse prescribing.

While the continued delivery of Opioid Substitution Treatment was a priority during the pandemic, my Department is working with stakeholders to expand services in the area of nurse prescribing, including nurse prescribing of opiate substitution treatment. It is intended that this issue will be considered in more detail in the near future.

I am committed to supporting people with substance misuse issues on their journey to recovery.