Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

First, I wish the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the staff and everyone in Leinster House a happy and safe Christmas and new year. I may not have another opportunity to say that before the recess. I also want to convey my warm appreciation of all those working in the addiction sector over the past 12 months, many of whom will be working over the Christmas period trying to protect vulnerable people. The work they do every day, and have done throughout the Covid crisis, has saved countless lives. On behalf of Sinn Féin, I thank them for their efforts. However, for the 14th budget in a row, local and community groups, particularly task forces, have felt completely unheard.

Their calls for additional funding and resources have fallen on deaf ears once again. Two months after the budget we are still none the wiser on how the community budget allocations will even be distributed. The drug and alcohol task forces need to be fully consulted. It is even more disappointing that we still do not have the details of some of the measures that were announced in the budget. Family support networks are still waiting on details of funding that was promised to them. In recent weeks with the publication of the national drugs strategy mid-term review, we have seen a worrying move by the Department to weaken the voice of the community and voluntary sector at a national level.

I want to send a clear message to the Minister present, as well as to the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, and the Minister for Health that Sinn Féin will stand on the side of the community and voluntary addiction sector. We will not stand by and allow their powers to be stripped. Task forces and advocacy groups are the experts on the ground and policy needs to come from the people on the ground. A Sinn Féin government, as we proposed in budget 2020, would resource the community and addiction sector to give them back their autonomy. We would ensure that task forces could identify localised issues and tackle them before they got out of control and went into crisis.

We would work with the family support groups and give them back their national voice. We would recognise that those working on the ground are the experts. A Sinn Féin government would listen to experts on the ground. The budget failed to provide enough resources and funding for local and voluntary groups and for the task forces. It was a missed opportunity. I plead that these groups be recognised for the valuable work they have done and be resourced properly.

See this speech in context