52 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health and Children the information his Department has in relation to the incidence of the detection rate of and treatment for problems involving alcohol in general practice. [25524/01]

The health promotion unit of my Department has just agreed to provide £75,000 – 95,230 – to the Irish College of General Practitioners to support a pilot study to improve the detection and treatment of alcohol problems in general practice. The results of this pilot study will provide valuable information on all aspects of alcohol problems in primary care and will create greater awareness of the issue among general practitioners.