Junior Minister unhappy with addiction services

The Junior Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy says she’s unhappy with the response she was asked to deliver in the Seanad today on Galway’s alcohol addiction services.
The house has heard calls for a review of the eligibility requirements for the service, which is provided by the HSE at Merlin Park.
The issue has been raised today by Galway Senator Trevor O’Clochartaigh.
He’s calling on the HSE to reverse its recent decision that patients referred with alcohol addiction problems must also be diagnosed with depression, anxiety or other similar conditions before being accepted.
In the Seanad, Junior Minister Catherine Byrne delivered a generalised response which had been prepared by her department.
Senator O’Clochartaigh told the minister that the response is ‘nonsense,’ and does not address the reality of the situation.
In reply, Minister of State Catherine Byrne, said she was also unhappy with the response she was asked to deliver.
She says she’s contacted the HSE in a bid to find out ‘what’s going on.’