862. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether she will bring forward proposals to control nitrous oxide under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, in view of the hospital discharge data for 2020 to 2024 showing a rise in neurological presentations linked to recreational nitrous oxide use, with a mean patient age of 19.7 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53338/26]
Topics / Misuse of Drugs
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsMisuse of Drugs
37 questions from 17 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 14 July 2026.
37
questions
37 written, 0 oral
17
TDs have asked
8
parties and groups
Independents counted together
3
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 1 |
| February 2025 | 4 |
| March 2025 | 0 |
| April 2025 | 0 |
| May 2025 | 3 |
| June 2025 | 0 |
| July 2025 | 6 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 3 |
| October 2025 | 2 |
| November 2025 | 0 |
| December 2025 | 0 |
| January 2026 | 0 |
| February 2026 | 5 |
| March 2026 | 0 |
| April 2026 | 2 |
| May 2026 | 1 |
| June 2026 | 5 |
| July 2026 | 5 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 0 |
| October 2026 | 0 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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Asked of
The questions
863. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of people who entered treatment for problem nitrous oxide use in each of the years from 2021 to 2025; the number in each year aged 17 years or under; the services available specifically for adolescents presenting with nitrous oxide-related harm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53339/26]
864. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has issued clinical guidance to emergency departments and neurology services on the recognition and treatment of nitrous oxide-induced neurological injury, including subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53340/26]
865. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has examined restricting the sale of flavoured nitrous oxide canisters marketed towards young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53341/26]
707. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the steps she will take in relation to nitrous oxide following the publication of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drug Use Final Report; her views on the report’s recommendations relating to nitrous oxide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50816/26]
351. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he plans his own legislation to combat nitrous oxide misuse in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48391/26]
239. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the quantity of falsified and illegal medicines, by dosage unit, detained in the State in each year since 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44378/26]
243. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to the national drug treatment reporting system recording 15,422 cases presenting for treatment in 2025, an increase of 16%; the steps being taken to respond to the rise in cocaine-related treatment demand, given that crack cocaine cases increased by 90% and powder cocaine cases by 282% between 2017 and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the …
246. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to address the use of anabolic steroids and other image and performance enhancing drugs in gym and non-elite settings;the public health response or harm-reduction services available to users; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44402/26]
247. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of detentions of anabolic steroids and other image and performance enhancing drugs by the Health Products Regulatory Authority, by dosage unit, in each year since 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44403/26]
697. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if there are national policies or additional resources being considered to support towns like Clonmel experiencing a rise in visible drug activity; if there is scope for legislative or policy changes to better address persistent public drug use and protect residential areas; if there are examples of successful interventions in other…
2124. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for a detailed update in relation to the health diversion scheme for persons in possession of drugs for personal use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26008/26]
2125. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for a detailed update on the Drug Treatment Court; the average costs per case highlighting the various services/agencies involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26010/26]
223. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will enact the recommendations relevant to his Department outlined in the Joint Committee on Drugs Use Interim Report published on 22 October 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13120/26]
275. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health for an update on the progress in implementing the 22 recommendations outlined in the 2022 Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice report entitled An Examination of the Present Approach to Sanctions for Possession of Certain Amounts of Drugs for Personal Use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13117/26]
276. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if she will enact the recommendations relevant to her Department outlined in the Joint Committee on Drugs Use interim report published on 22 October 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13119/26]
277. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health her Department’s position on the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13121/26]
278. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health when the public consultation on the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029 will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13123/26]
313. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind the proposed project to test wastewater to measure the levels of illicit drugs and their metabolites excreted in urine; the means by which she expects this project will inform policy and local responses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54062/25]
706. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 808 of 20 May 2025, for an update following the Departments consultation with it’s legal advisers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53869/25]
1021. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of recent data indicating a rise in illicit drug use, particularly among young people; the plans her Department has to enhance drug education and prevention programmes in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47118/25]
1022. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline any planned or ongoing collaborations her Department has with An Garda Síochána, Department of Health, HSE, or community groups to deliver targeted awareness campaigns highlighting the detrimental physical, mental, and social impacts of drug use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47119/25]
2034. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of recent data indicating a rise in illicit drug use across the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47110/25]
2728. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the introduction of legislation to add hexahydrocannabinol to control measures under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 as a schedule 1 controlled drug; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41719/25]
2811. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure fentanyl use does not become widespread in Ireland as it has become in other countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42191/25]