Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Tuesday, 25 October 2016

Questions (437)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

437. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding given to the mid-west regional drug and alcohol forum, formerly known as drugs taskforce, per annum from 2008 to 2016; the amount budgeted for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31776/16]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

In line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Government is committed to continuing support for initiatives to tackle the drug problem. The Mid West Drugs and Alcohol Task Force/Forum is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Strategy in Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and Limerick City.

The following table shows the funding for the Drug and Alcohol Forum from 2009 to 2016. It should be noted that from 2009 to 2013 the Mid West Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force/Forum was funded by my Department under the Drugs Initiative Fund. The reduction in the budget allocated from the Drugs Initiative Fund in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 reflects the fact that my Department transferred funding of approximately €1.26 million in respect of a number of projects in the Mid West Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force/Forum to the HSE in 2014. The HSE maintained this allocation in 2015 and 2016.

Mid West

Allocation	Year
-	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
DoH Allocation	1,548,888	1,576,095	1,533,540	1,496,428	1,451,535	147,982	147,982	147,982
HSE Allocation						1,260,007	1,260,007	1,260,007
Total	1,548,888	1,576,095	1,533,540	1,496,428	1,451,535	1,407,989	1,407,989	1,407,989

The Department of Health will shortly be writing to Task Forces to invite them to submit their recommendations for funding of drugs initiatives in 2017. It is a matter for Task Forces to ensure that their budget is effectively deployed to address current priorities and locally identified needs.