Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for the opportunity to update him on the closure of Hesed House in Inchicore. As he rightly said, 28 years is a long time. This service came out of the needs of the community. I reiterate my commitment, as Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, to do all I can to ensure the decision of the board of management of Hesed House to close the service will not have a significant impact on the ability of the people of Dublin 8, Dublin 10 and Dublin 12 to access appropriate care.

I also acknowledge the identified need for counselling services for families and individuals with regard to both mental health and addiction. The Department of Health and the HSE are dedicated to ensuring that service of the highest quality is available to all of those who require it. Once again, I welcome the assurance of the HSE that there are a number of projects within the Dublin 8, Dublin 10 and Dublin 12 areas that provide counselling. Any gaps in service provision will be addressed via these services. I am pleased to learn that a meeting took place today between the liquidator appointed to Hesed House and the HSE. I hope this has brought greater clarity to the situation.

As I have said, we are very fortunate to have the HSE addiction services, the Canal Communities Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force and Tusla. I will heap tremendous praise on the local task force. Its workers are the people on the ground who work with all the various stakeholders, which the Deputy has rightly identified. These are the people working in addiction services in the interests of the community. We are very fortunate to have such a professional, dedicated and strong team in the Canal Communities Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force. I look forward to working with them in the future.

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