12. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned at Health Research Board figures outlining alcohol-related poisoning deaths for 2021, which show that alcohol played a role in the poisoning of 155 people; if he is further concerned that this data represents only 10% of all alcohol-related deaths annually, over 1,500 people, which is about four times the number of people who die from other drug use; and if the new national drugs strategy will definitely address alcohol, or if a stand-alone alcohol strategy is needed. [39177/24]

Minister of State at the Department of Health: The National Drug Related Death Index (NDRDI) is the official national database for recording poisoning deaths among people who use drugs. It meets the mandatory reporting requirements of the EU and the UN on drug-related mortality, as well as being widely used to provide evidence for national policy and planning. The Health Research Board (HRB) is responsible for compiling and reporting on the NDRDI.

The HRB has recently published 2021 data on drug induced deaths. This records 354 drug poisoning deaths, a reduction of 85 on the number in 2020, a decrease of almost 20%.

Four in 5 deaths were polysubstance poisonings, highlighting the level of risk inherent in combining different drugs. Alcohol was implicated in 91 deaths in conjunction with other drugs.

Alcohol only poisoning deaths, which numbered 64 in 2021, are not included in the data reported from the NDRDI.

The proposed timeframe for the finalisation of the next national drugs strategy, which will set out the Government's health-led response to drug and alcohol use, is the first quarter of 2025.

I would like to acknowledge the loss and grief felt by the families bereaved by a drug poisoning death. It is my priority to enhance access to and delivery of drug and alcohol services in the community, in order to mitigate the risk of premature deaths from drug and alcohol use.