Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1367. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the timetable for the delivery of a budgetary commitment to provide €0.5 million to address high-risk drug use such as crack cocaine and other drugs; and when the funding will be available to services on the ground and commit to full consultation with the drug and alcohol task forces in rolling it out. [63034/21]
View answer1368. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the timetable for the delivery of a commitment given in Budget 2022 to provide €1.7 million for measures to increase the availability of HSE drug and alcohol services on a nationwide basis; the funding to include services for persons with alcohol addiction, persons under 18 years of age, families affected by drugs in addition to rehabilitation and recovery programmes; and if he will fully consult with the drug and alcohol task forces in rolling it out. [63035/21]
View answer1369. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the timetable for the delivery of a commitment given in Budget 2022 to provide €0.5 million to increase access to and provision of community-based drug and alcohol services for women, ethnic minorities and LGBTI+; and if he will fully consult with the drug and alcohol task forces in rolling it out. [63036/21]
View answer1372. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the timeline for delivery of the €0.5 million committed to in Budget 2022 to address high-risk drug use; and if he will fully consult with the drug and alcohol task forces in rolling it out. [63039/21]
View answer1373. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the timeline for delivery of the €1.7 million to increase the availability of HSE drug and alcohol services on a nationwide basis; and if he will fully consult with the drug and alcohol task forces in rolling it out. [63040/21]
View answer1374. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the timeline for delivery of the €0.5 million to increase access to and provision of community-based drug and alcohol services for women, ethnic minorities and LGTBI+; and if he will fully consult with the drug and alcohol task forces in rolling it out. [63041/21]
View answer1375. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the timeline for delivery of the €0.7 million to provide additional services for children and families who are impacted by parental drug and alcohol use; and if he will fully consult with the drug and alcohol task forces in rolling it out. [63042/21]
View answer1491. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the additional €0.5 million to address high-risk drug use such as crack cocaine and other drugs as announced in Budget 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63400/21]
View answer1492. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the €1.7 million for measures to increase the availability of HSE drug and alcohol services on a nationwide basis as announced in Budget 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63401/21]
View answer1493. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the €0.5 million to increase access to and provision of community-based drug and alcohol services for women, ethnic minorities and LGBTI+, as announced in Budget 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63402/21]
View answer1494. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the €0.7 million to provide additional services for children and families who are impacted by parental drug and alcohol use as announced in Budget 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63403/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1367 to 1369, inclusive,1372 to 1375, inclusive, and 1491 to 1494, inclusive, together.
In the Revised Estimates for Public Expenditure 2022, an additional €7m is provided for new measures to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy, 'Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery'. This funding will be used to strengthen the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use and to support the strategic priorities for 2021-2025 identified in the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy.
The Department of Health has published a fact sheet on new funding provided for in Budget 2022 which can be found at www.gov.ie/en/publication/001fc-budget-2022-factsheet/. This includes €1.7 million for measures to increase the availability of HSE drug and alcohol services on a nationwide basis. This will include services for people with alcohol addiction, people under 18 years, families affected by drugs, as well as rehabilitation and recovery programmes.
Further details on this funding will be set out in the HSE national service plan 2022. Drug and alcohol task forces should engage with their community healthcare organisation on plans for new HSE services.
I am committed to increasing access to and provision of drug and alcohol services in line with the strategic priorities for 2021-2025 under national drug strategy.
