Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2019

Tuesday, 5 March 2019

Questions (332, 333, 334)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

332. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the former emerging needs fund which catered for a quick response to local issues and needs was productive in assisting drugs and alcohol task forces; and his plans to reinstate the fund. [10731/19]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

333. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if extra funding will be provided to drugs and alcohol task forces to meet the challenge of drug-related gangs in Dublin in view of the recent upsurge in serious drug-related anti-social behaviour in areas (details supplied). [10732/19]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

334. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the funding being provided to drug and alcohol task forces in 2019; the equivalent figures in each of the years 2014 to 2018; his plans to increase funding for same during 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10733/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 334, inclusive, together.

The Department of Health allocated funding of almost €100 million to the HSE for addiction services in 2019. The HSE National Service Plan 2019 sets out the type and volume of addiction services to be provided, having regard to the funding allocated.

In addition, the Department provides a further €28 million to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces through various channels of funding, including the HSE.

Implementing the health-led national drugs strategy continues to be a Government priority. Task forces have an important role in delivering the strategy at the local level.

I am committed to providing additional resources to enhance service provision under the national drugs strategy. I consider that resources should be directed towards those interventions which are most likely to lead to a reduction in problem substance use and positive improvement in public health, safety and well-being.

Within the limited envelope of resources available for drug and alcohol services in 2019, I am considering options for the provision of additional funding for addiction services and task forces. I will shortly be engaging with the task forces to outline my plans for additional funding for community initiatives to tackle the misuse of drugs and alcohol.

A table follows outlining the allocations to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces from 2014 to 2019.

Funding allocations to drug and alcohol task forces 2014 to 2019

LDATF	2014 DOH	2014 HSE	2015 DOH	2015 HSE	2016 DOH	2016 HSE	2017 DOH	2017 HSE	2018 DOH	2018 HSE	2019 DOH	2019 HSE
Ballyfermot	€461,150	€1,025,582	€255,446	€1,231,286	€255,446	€1,231,286	€255,446	€1,231,286	€255,446	€1,231,286	€255,446	€1,231,286
Ballymun	€632,817	€488,098	€422,958	€697,957	€422,958	€697,957	€422,958	€697,957	€422,958	€697,957	€422,958	€697,957
Blanchardstown	€179,305	€913,589	€179,305	€913,589	€179,305	€913,589	€179,305	€913,589	€179,305	€913,589	€179,305	€913,589
Bray	€573,860	€916,271	€573,860	€916,271	€573,860	€916,271	€573,860	€916,271	€573,860	€916,271	€573,860	€916,271
Canal Communities	€338,605	€1,141,309	€338,605	€1,141,309	€338,605	€1,141,309	€338,605	€1,141,309	€338,605	€1,141,309	€338,605	€1,141,309
Clondalkin	€388,114	€1,007,948	€388,114	€1,007,948	€388,114	€1,007,948	€388,114	€1,007,948	€388,114	€1,007,948	€388,114	€1,007,948
Cork	€411,988	€1,108,299	€411,988	€1,108,299	€411,988	€1,108,299	€411,988	€1,108,299	€411,988	€1,108,299	€411,988	€1,108,299
Dublin 12	€74,013	€990,134	€70,997	€993,150	€70,397	€993,750	€70,397	€993,750	€70,397	€993,750	€70,397	€993,750
Dublin NE	€422,251	€594,836	€422,251	€594,836	€239,971	€777,116	€239,971	€777,116	€239,971	€777,116	€239,971	€777,116
Dun Laoghaire	€94,676	€786,755	€94,676	€786,755	€94,676	€786,755	€94,676	€786,755	€94,676	€786,755	€94,676	€786,755
Finglas Cabra	€263,277	€627,960	€263,277	€627,960	€263,277	€627,960	€263,277	€627,960	€263,277	€627,960	€263,277	€627,960
NIC	€576,956	€1,652,623	€494,856	€1,734,723	€394,856	€1,834,723	€394,856	€1,834,723	€394,856	€1,834,723	€394,856	€1,834,723
SIC	€255,720	€1,788,337	€176,043	€1,868,014	€176,043	€1,868,014	€176,043	€1,868,014	€176,043	€1,868,014	€176,043	€1,868,014
Tallaght	€452,712	€782,240	€341,438	€893,514	€336,022	€898,930	€336,022	€898,930	€336,022	€898,930	€336,022	€898,930
Total LDATF	€5,125,444	€13,823,981	€4,433,814	€14,515,611	€4,145,518	€14,803,907	€4,145,518	€14,803,907	€4,145,518	€14,803,907	€4,145,518	€14,803,907
RDATF	2014 DOH	2014 HSE	2015 DOH	2015 HSE	2016 DOH	2016 HSE	2017 DOH	2017 HSE	2018 DOH	2018 HSE	2018 DOH	2018 HSE
East Coast Area	€58,200	€508,500	€58,200	€508,500	€58,200	€508,500	€58,200	€508,500	€58,200	€508,500	€58,200	€508,500
Midland	€307,810	€491,497	€136,816	€662,491	€136,816	€662,491	€136,816	€662,491	€136,816	€662,491	€136,816	€662,491
Mid-West	€147,982	€1,260,007	€147,982	€1,260,007	€147,982	€1,260,007	€147,982	€1,260,007	€147,982	€1,260,007	€147,982	€1,260,007
North East	€0	€927,813	€0	€927,813	€0	€927,813	€0	€927,813	€0	€927,813	€0	€927,813
North West	€272,485	€447,878	€258,633	€461,730	€258,633	€461,730	€258,633	€461,730	€258,633	€461,730	€258,633	€461,730
North Dublin City & Co.	€456,080	€321,184	€309,778	€467,486	€266,245	€511,019	€266,245	€511,019	€266,245	€511,019	€266,245	€511,019
South East	€0	€1,065,760	€0	€1,065,760	€0	€1,065,760	€0	€1,065,760	€0	€1,065,760	€0	€1,065,760
South West	€102,820	€696,497	€102,820	€696,497	€102,820	€696,497	€102,820	€696,497	€102,820	€696,497	€102,820	€696,497
Southern	€0	€973,178	€0	€973,178	€0	€973,178	€0	€973,178	€0	€973,178	€0	€973,178
Western	€136,994	€524,155	€136,994	€524,155	€136,994	€524,155	€136,994	€524,155	€136,994	€524,155	€136,994	€524,155
Total RDATF	€1,482,371	€7,216,469	€1,151,223	€7,547,617	€1,107,690	€7,591,150	€1,107,690	€7,591,150	€1,107,690	€7,591,150	€1,107,690	€7,591,150
Overall Total	€27,648,265		€27,648,265		€27,648,265		€27,648,265		€27,648,265		€27,648,265