Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Ceisteanna (1111, 1112, 1114, 1115)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

1111. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to the local drug and alcohol task forces by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21396/20]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

1112. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional capacity or services a 10% increase in funding for local drug and alcohol task forces would provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21397/20]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

1114. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to the regional drug and alcohol task forces by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21399/20]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

1115. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional capacity or services a 10% increase in funding for regional drug and alcohol task forces would provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21418/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1111, 1112, 1114 and 1115 together.

The Department of Health provides annual funding of €28 million to drug and alcohol task forces, to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy. Additional resources of €1 million will be provided to task forces in 2020 for 14 strategic initiatives and core operating costs.

Over €19 million of the annual task force funding is provided to the 14 local drug and alcohol task forces. A 10 per cent increase in the allocation to Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces would be €1,909,000 and bring their total allocation up to almost €21 million.

The 10 Regional Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces receive almost €8.8m in funding. A 10 per cent increase in the allocation to Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces would be €879,884 and bring their total allocation up to €9.7 million.

The combined cost of a 10 per cent increase to task forces would be €2,788,827.

I believe that additional resources should be directed towards interventions and strategies which are most likely to lead to a reduction in problem substance use and an improvement in public health, safety and well-being. I will consider the allocation of additional resources for the national drugs strategy as part of the Estimates process.