Under the Health Act, 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Services Executive.
My Department has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. The National Drugs Strategy Team is a cross-departmental Team involving Departments (including the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive), Agencies and representation from the community and voluntary sectors. All aspects of drug policy and implementation are discussed by these parties on an on-going basis. This structure oversees the work of the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces and through this mechanism the following funding has been provided to Ashleigh House, which provides residential rehabilitation facilities for female drug users: €210,000 in 2004 from the Premises Initiative Fund to upgrade the accommodation; €256,457 in the current year through the Local Drugs Task Force structure for the ongoing employment of a full time service manager, two full time workers and a half-time van driver; and €130,000 in the current year from the Emerging Needs Fund to facilitate the expansion of programmes and security services and the provision of full evening/night shift cover as well as childcare on a needs basis.
The funding provided by my Department represents targeted interventions to address particular needs. The Probation and Welfare Service and the Health Services Executive provide the main current funding for the project.