Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:644. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will report on his recent meeting with a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47878/21]
View answerTuesday, 5 October 2021
Questions (644)
Written answers
The National Drug Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, recognises the role of families affected by drug use in contributing to the planning, design and delivery of effective addiction services.
In Budget 2021, I secured €280,000 in additional funding to support family services. This funding will be used to develop and broaden the range of peer-led, mutual aid and family support programmes in accordance with best practice, in line with action 2.1.16 of the National Drugs Strategy.
The development of family support services is listed as a drug and alcohol priority in the HSE National Service Plan for 2021. It is intended that the HSE will use this additional funding to develop coordinated family support programmes in the following four areas this year:
- Dublin North Inner City,
- Cork/Kerry,
- Louth and Meath,
- Donegal.
Each initiative has been allocated €70,000 and this funding is now available to the HSE.
I am aware of the interest in the allocation of this funding in Louth/Meath and I had a productive meeting with the group referred to by the Deputy in late September. On foot of the meeting, the HSE is issuing a template by which the group (and other interested parties) can apply for funding. I looking forward to hearing from the HSE about the outcome of this application process in the next few weeks.