799. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the current demand for addiction treatment and rehabilitation services for women in Ireland; the number of women who accessed residential and community-based addiction services in each of the past three years; the number of facilities that provide gender-specific programmes or services for women with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65144/25] 

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Minister of State at the Department of Health: The National Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) reported on female treatment figures in 2024. 

One in three (30.0%) cases entering drug treatment in 2024 were female. Eighteen cases identified as non-binary or in another way. While the main problem drug was cocaine for males and females, the proportion for cocaine was higher among males (40.8% versus 37.5%). 

Between 2017 and 2024 there was a 426.1% increase among females who have sought drug treatment for cocaine, from 284 cases in 2017 to 1,494 cases in 2024. 

Females accounted for almost one-quarter (24.8%) of cases with cocaine as a main problem over the 8-year period. The proportion of female cases increased from 18.9% in 2017 to 28.2% in 2024, increasing more than five-fold in numbers over the period. 

Among cases treated for the first time, females were older, had higher rates of unemployment, and had higher rates of problem opioid use. 

In 2024, more than one-half of cases (52.1%, 6,932 cases) in drug treatment had children of any age. Of these, 8 in 10 (83.8%, 5,809 cases) were known to have children aged 17 years or under, of these cases, 62.6% were males and 37.3% were females. 

In 2024, of those known to have children aged 17 years or under, 38.1% had at least one child residing with them at the time of treatment entry, while 61.9% had at least one child residingelsewhere.11, 12 A higher proportion of females entering drug treatment reported having dependent children and living with children. Males were less likely to be residing with their children. 

Among females who sought drug treatment for the first time there was an increase of 318.7% from 2017 to 2024. 

The number of females entering treatment for opioid use has fluctuated over the time period from 1,316 in 2017 to 1,050 cases in 2024. The median age of females increased from 33 in 2017 to 38 in 2024. 

Further information on treatment demand is available from HRB publications https://www.hrb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Drug-treatment-bulletin-2024.pdf 

Issues relating to the number of facilities that provide gender-specific programmes or services for women with children are service matters. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Question No. 800 answered with Question No. 796.