Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
2108. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he plans to provide additional funding through the HSE to an organisation (details supplied) in 2021 in view of the demand for its services and the extra cost associated with providing them due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19882/21]
View answerThe organisation to which the Deputy refers receives funding from the HSE, and CHO West has a Service Level Agreement with the organisation. It provides a range of services, including homeless services, domestic abuse services and senior support services.
Homeless services fall within my responsibility as Minister of State. The Department of Health provided an additional €11m to meet the health needs of people who are homeless during Covid-19 in Budget 2021. The details of this additional funding are set out in the HSE national service plan 2021. The additional funding includes the following:
- continue the protective public health measures that were developed during COVID-19 for the medically vulnerable homeless population.
- expand GP services for people who living in emergency accommodation in Dublin and regional centres.
- provide continuity of care for people who are homeless who may require emergency hospital treatment during the winter months.
CHO 2 is receiving additional funding of €130,000 to increase GP capacity at low threshold GP clinics and to provide temporary emergency accommodation. How this additional funding is allocated to local service providers is a matter for CHO 2.
Budget 2021 is a giant step in delivering on the commitment in the Programme for Government to increase HSE funding for targeted interventions for people who are homeless. I will consider the provision of additional resources to meet the health needs of people who are homeless in the context of the 2022 estimates process. I will engage with the HSE as part of this process.
