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Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Questions (332)

Niall Collins

Question:

332. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report from the Minister for State with responsibility for the drugs and alcohol strategy on actions proposed in respect of his commitment to support the continuation of community action on alcohol projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46614/18]

View answer

Written answers

The remit of the Drugs Task Forces was extended to include the problem of alcohol misuse in 2014, in view of the central role they play in coordinating the response to substance misuse at local level. The 2014-2016 Dormant Accounts Action Plan provided a budget of approximately €1m to support the Task Forces in undertaking work at local and regional level to address the alcohol problem.

The Community Action on Alcohol Project (CAAP) was set up in 2014 to assist task forces to develop coordinated strategies to change behaviour around alcohol and to raise awareness of alcohol related harm. CAAP training for Task Forces is funded by the HSE and is delivered by the Alcohol Forum. A Steering Group chaired by the Drugs Policy Unit in the Department of Health oversees the work of CAAP. By the end of 2017, 16 of the 24 Task Forces had participated on the training programme.

The national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, commits to the establishment of an initiative to deliver an integrated public health approach to drugs and alcohol including the promotion of evidence based approaches to mobilising community action on alcohol.

In June, I announced funding of €1 million to support and enhance services addressing drug and alcohol misuse. This money will be allocated in quarter four of 2018.

Implementing the health-led national drugs strategy continues to be a Government priority. Within the increased envelope of resources available in Budget 2019 for health services, my intention is to prioritise funding for community drug and alcohol projects in task force areas of greatest need, additional drug and alcohol midwives working with vulnerable mothers-to-be and enhanced treatment services to address existing and emerging needs.

The Department of Health is working with the Health Service Executive to finalise the 2019 National Service Plan. Drug and Alcohol Task Forces will be notified of their 2019 funding allocations once the service plan has been approved by the Minister for Health.

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