Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 18 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 2

Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

95 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that one of the four drug rehabilitation centres (details supplied) for which funding was provided recently, is operating without planning permission and was opened without consultation with the local community; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that it is operating in the Cloncurry, Enfield, County Kildare area which is a rural area with 47 people living there; his views on whether this is a satisfactory position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12257/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Prioritising and provision of funding for drug misuse services is the responsibility of health boards. I have been informed by the Eastern Regional Health Authority that no health board is at present providing funding to the drug rehabilitation centre referred to by the Deputy. I am aware that capital funding has been agreed in principle by the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs, subject to certain conditions being met. These include the normal conditions attaching to this capital scheme, such as planning approval, where appropriate, certification that all technical requirements, such as safety, are met and all other relevant information is provided to the agency channelling the funding to the approved project. The Northern Area Health Board has been approached to act as the channel of funding in this instance. The national drug strategy team, in consultation with the health board, is drawing up the detailed conditions of funding.