Results 161-180 of 501 for drugs speaker:Frank Feighan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: The Deputy raised some interesting points. I am committed. We have already increased the budget in my previous two budget terms as Minister of State. The Department funds 280 community drug projects throughout the country. We have to tackle the social determinants of drug use. It is unfortunate and wrong that departmental officials do not attend various committees. Again, as I said to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: ...stakeholders. That is why we have the committee. I will of course work with it but, in essence, we need to work together. We need to tackle the determinants of disadvantage and the prevalence of drug use. I liaise closely with the Department of the Taoiseach. There are some issues regarding funding on which I might bring in my two officials.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: I am following the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery. There is discussion regarding a citizens' assembly on drug use, in effect. At present, we are following the Reducing Harm, Supporting Recover booklet in the Department until there is a change of direction. I am not sure there will be because legalising drugs would inevitably normalise drug use. That is just my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Frank Feighan: ...collaboration. I have visited the Housing First initiative in Waterford, which is really the way forward. If this Department's wraparound facilities for people who are homeless and also use drugs during the Covid-19 crisis can be called a success, it has been a major one because we have saved hundreds of lives. I thank all the stakeholders for the work they have done on that. There is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Local Drugs Task Forces (16 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: Supporting the participation of individuals, families and communities is on of the goals of the national drugs strategy. Community and voluntary groups, including the group mentioned by the Deputy, are represented on the national oversight committee (NOC), which I chair. The NOC meets on a quarterly basis. It provides a forum for groups to give leadership, direction, prioritisation and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Local Drugs Task Forces (16 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: The Department of Health currently provides in the region of €28 million to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces to deliver community-based drug and alcohol services in local communities. Task Forces support over 280 community projects throughout the country to tackle problem drug and alcohol use. The Department does not collect information from task forces on a county basis.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Family Support Services (16 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: The National Drug Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, recognises the role of families affected by drug use in contributing to the planning, design and delivery of effective addiction services. In Budget 2021, I secured €280,000 in additional funding to support family services. This funding will be used to develop and broaden the range of peer-led, mutual aid and family...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Local Drugs Task Forces (16 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together. The National Oversight Committee gives leadership and direction to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy. The Committee consists of a cross-sector membership from the statutory, community and voluntary sector, as well as clinical and academic expertise. The Department of Health completed and published the mid-term...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (16 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: In 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Local Drugs Task Forces (16 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: I have noted the findings of the report on 'The Landscape of Substance Misuse and its impact on the communities of Tallaght's Drugs and Alcohol Task Force'. In Budget 2022, I secured an additional €6m for new measures to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy and to strengthen the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use, as set out in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (16 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: The Department has developed guidance for drug and alcohol support groups and treatment programmes. The guidance recognises the important role of drug and alcohol support groups and treatment programmes in helping individuals to build recovery capital and to avoid relapse into harmful patterns of substance use. In line with the reopening of society, the cap on attendance at drug and alcohol...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (16 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: ...minimal cost (subject only to the prescription charge), while those with a GP visit card are also supported to some extent as the clinical cost element of contraception is reduced. Furthermore, the Drugs Payment Scheme, for which anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland is eligible, covers the cost of prescription items, if these exceed the monthly limit, which will be reduced from...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Drugs Task Forces (15 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: ...Stephen Donnelly, is in the Dáil from 10 a.m. until noon for a Private Members' Bill. I welcome the opportunity to update the Seanad on the Department's engagement with the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force to address the governance issues that are preventing it from operating effectively. Drug and alcohol task forces play an important role under the national drugs...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Drugs Task Forces (15 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator. I am committed to addressing the drug and alcohol issues affecting the north inner city in conjunction with the local community and relevant service providers. Considerable additional resources have been provided to enhance drug and alcohol services in the area, both from the NEIC initiative and the Department's budget. The drugs and alcohol task force has a key role...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (15 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. The Department of Health currently provides in the region of €28 million to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces to deliver community-based drug and alcohol services in local communities. Task Forces support over 280 community projects throughout the country to tackle problem drug and alcohol use. The table at the link outlines the funding...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (14 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: ...the task force leadership and members have not been able to resolve the impasse in the appointment of an independent chairperson of the task force. The Department is aware that the North Inner City Drugs & Alcohol Task Force is no longer in a position to function, following the resignation of the chairperson and company directors. I am committed to working with all...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (7 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: ...this important issue. I welcome this opportunity to confirm for the House the continued participation of the community and voluntary sector in the national oversight committee for the national drugs strategy. I convened a meeting of the national oversight committee on Friday. My door is always open to meeting various groups. I have met CityWide on many occasions. It has been part of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Health Services (7 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: I again thank the Deputies for the opportunity to confirm the continued participation of community and voluntary organisations in the national drugs strategy. The interagency approach involving a partnership between statutory, community and voluntary bodies remains central to the strategy, as does strengthening the resilience of communities to respond to the drug problem. Community...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (7 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: The Department of Health published the mid-term review of the actions in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, on the 17th November. It shows significant progress in implementing the action plan for the period 2017 to 2020, with only a small number of the 50 actions outstanding. It also examined the effectiveness of government expenditure on the national drugs...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (2 Dec 2021)

Frank Feighan: Government policy in relation to drug and alcohol addiction services is set out in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery-a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025. Earlier this year the Health Research Board published the National Drug and Alcohol Survey 2019/20, which is funded by the Department of Health and managed by the Health...