Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2021
190. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made with regard to the allocation of the €500,000 to address the crack cocaine crisis announced as part of Budget 2022; if not, when this decision will be made in order that community drugs projects that are struggling to maintain services will have clarity on available funding from 1 January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59275/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2022, an additional €6m was provided for new health measures to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery.
As part of this €6m, €0.5m was allocated to address high risk drug use, such as crack cocaine and other drugs. The funding will expand harm reduction responses both in local communities and as a response to the use of stimulant drugs in the night time economy. It will also extend the Naloxone demonstration Project to prevent drug overdose deaths.
The Department of Health has published a factsheet on the additional funding in Budget 2022 which can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/001fc-budget-2022-factsheet/. This includes a summary of the new health measures in tabular format.
The HSE National Service Plan 2022 will provide details on the allocation of the new funding.
I believe this new funding will strengthen the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use as
set out in the Programme for Government and support the strategic priorities for 2021-2025 under the national drugs strategy, which I recently announced.
