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

I am delighted to announce €23.5m in total investment for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy in budget 2023.

Addressing the challenge of obesity is a priority for this Government and a priority action under Healthy Ireland, our national framework for improving the health and well-being of our nation, as evidenced by the publication of the national obesity policy and action plan in 2016. Additional funding has been secured to fund increased clinical obesity services in budget 2023. To support sexual health, €600,000 is being allocated to expand and further support the online testing service for sexually transmitted infections, STIs, and to support the national condom distribution service. Supports for sexual health also include additional funding for contraception, for both men and for women. The free contraception scheme for 17 to 25-year-old women, as mentioned by the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, yesterday, has been funded to expand the age range to those aged 16 to 30 during 2023. Funding for sexual health also includes supports for the national condom distribution service, which, in line with increased availability of free prescription contraception for women, will be made more widely available through GP surgeries and family planning clinics.

Budget 2023 provides additional supports of €750,000 for social prescribing, for which supports now total €950,000. In budget 2023, I secured €10.5 million in additional recurring funding for the national drugs strategy and inclusion health. Of this, €7 million is for new developments, including €4 million for the expansion of community and residential addiction services under the national drugs strategy and €3 million to improve access to healthcare services for socially excluded groups. In addition, I have provided €3.5 million for community and voluntary providers to maintain the existing level of drug and alcohol and inclusion health services. This is the first allocation to meet the costs of providing existing levels of services in recent years. The additional funding for the national drugs strategy reflects the six strategic priorities identified for the remaining four years of the strategy, 2022 to 2025. It will strengthen the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use, through reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities, and promoting rehabilitation and recovery.

Within the €4 million envelope, I have allocated €900,000 to ensure the sustainability and increase the capacity of tier 4 residential services. This funding will allow for commissioning of up to 30 new treatment episodes. Further, I am providing €850,000 to expand integrated care pathways for high-risk drug and alcohol users, including gender-specific services. This funding will establish new residential addiction treatment services for women in Meath and Wicklow and provide an integrated community alcohol service in Mayo. I am allocating an additional €1 million to strengthen the monitoring of emerging drug trends.

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