Results 301-320 of 501 for drugs speaker:Frank Feighan

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (24 Mar 2021)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1454 and 1455 together. The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use for the period 2017 to 2025. The strategy provides an integrated public health approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (24 Mar 2021)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1456 and 1457 together. Criminal activity and an active illicit drug market can create an intimidating and frightening environment for families and communities. The National Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, developed by the National Family Support Network and An Garda Siochana, provides a framework to allow reporting of an incident of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (10 Mar 2021)

Frank Feighan: The national survey on drug and alcohol use is a general population survey of households in Ireland to measure the extent and pattern of drug use (including alcohol and tobacco) among a representative sample of those aged 15 and over in Ireland. The survey is carried out according to standards set by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. The target sample size is c...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Mar 2021)

Frank Feighan: ...Arts for Older People - Community Christmas Concert Dublin City Council - The purchase of a Glasshouse for a community garden off Henrietta St. which will be used as a “good head space” for locals in an area of high crime and drugs. Providing respite from the anti social behaviour around and bringing the community together, increasing a sense of pride in the local area....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Citizens' Assembly (3 Mar 2021)

Frank Feighan: The Programme for Government includes the commitment to convene a citizen’s assembly to consider matters relating to drug use. The timing of this, and other assemblies, over the lifetime of the Government has yet to be determined. One element critical to the success of assemblies has been the opportunity to meet in person. The restrictions experienced with Covid-19 have presented...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (3 Mar 2021)

Frank Feighan: The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use for the period 2017 to 2025. The strategy provides an integrated public health approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. It contains 50 actions which are to be delivery over...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (3 Mar 2021)

Frank Feighan: ...(as amended), the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan 2021 sets out the type and volume of health and personal social services to be provided in 2021. This includes the provision of drug and alcohol addiction treatment services. The improvement of health outcomes for socially excluded groups in society is a key priority in the service plan. The HSE seeks to meet government...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (24 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: Expenditure by the HSE on drug and alcohol services has increased from €94 million in 2016 to over €103 million in 2019. This funding is used by the HSE to deliver a wide range of services, including early intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation. I have asked the executive to provide details of the funding it allocated to addiction support services in 2019, 2020 and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (24 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: The Department of Health does not collect data on drug misuse by county. The HSE has responsibility under the Health Act 2004, as amended, for the provision of health and personal social services including addiction services. I have asked the HSE to provide a breakdown of the funding for addiction services by Community Healthcare Organisation, in tabular form and to reply directly to the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (24 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: To support the development of the Framework for the Restoration of Drug and Alcohol Services, once-off funding of €480,00 was provided in November 2020 to support the provision of drug and alcohol services during Covid-19. The funding included the adaptation of services, premises, online meetings, and personal protective equipment. The funding was allocated to the network of 24 Drug...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (24 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use until 2025. The strategy outlines an integrated public health approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. The strategy contains 50 actions for delivery between 2017 and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (24 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: The national drugs strategy provides an integrated public health response to substance use. It contains 50 actions to be delivered over the four year 2017-2020. The strategy is a dynamic process, with the flexibility to introduce new measures to address issues that emerge. Action 36 in the strategy is to consider alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use and to...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: ...of Health harm reduction element of the health diversion programme provided €100,000 in 2020 to develop a national harm reduction campaign to raise awareness of the risk associated with drug use. The campaign will be delivered in 2021.

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: On the 24-7 drugs line, there is a drugs helpline in the UK that we have been trying to mirror. It is called Talk to Frank but it will not be called that here. There is a budget allocation of €170,000 for the service and the recruitment of three addiction counsellors is under way. It will not be 24 hour but it will be expanded to what we think will be needed, based on advice from...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: ...of funding. My colleague, Deputy Richmond, and others have been to the forefront in that regard, so perhaps it is time for a debate on the subject of putting the money put back into the local drugs task forces or into addressing the issues. On the funding, in November 2020 I approved one-off funding of €20,000 for each task force, including the Deputy's local task force, to assist...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: ...for the measured way in which he put his views forward. We come from different perspectives, but between us we try to get the best possible answers to this very difficult problem. The national drugs strategy sets out a health-led approach to drug use and it promotes a more compassionate and humane response to people who use drugs, with drug use treated as, first and foremost, a public...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I have made more than €1 million available for local drugs task forces. We also have up to €460,000 for targeted initiatives which we are seeking from various task forces. Again, I pay tribute to the great work the task forces are doing. I am aware of the awful situation in the Deputy's constituency, and the Deputy raised it with me previously. I am looking forward to a...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Deputy. I had a speech prepared that would have taken 15 or 20 minutes but, as the Deputy very rightly said, I had to remove something because I only had ten minutes. Regarding drug-related intimidation, I am very aware of such activity. An active illicit drug market leads to intimidation and a frightening environment for families and communities. A key action of the national...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: ...treatment programme. They are being retained as part of the existing service level. Some €4.2 million has been provided for the service's continuation in 2021. I have met all of the drugs and alcohol task forces and we are allocating funding. However, there are many initiatives, for example, Know the Score in respect of young children, and I hope to work with them.

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I welcome this opportunity to update the House on drug and alcohol services and health supports for people who are homeless during the Covid-19 pandemic. Not everyone faces the same risk from Covid-19. People who use drugs or alcohol in a problematic way are at heightened risk due to underlying health and social factors. These are compounded for...