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

I thank Senator Sherlock for raising this issue. The Commencement matter, which asks if the Minister will confirm that the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force will not be allocated funding in 2022, approaches this matter from an unusual perspective.

The drug and alcohol task forces play an important role under the national drugs strategy in co-ordinating services to assist individuals and families to address drug and alcohol issues in the community. They are based on an inter-agency partnership, which is at the heart of the strategy. Task forces oversee the allocation of almost €29 million in Department of Health funding for drug and alcohol services. Within this global allocation, €2.2 million is provided for community-based services in the north-east inner city. I can assure the Senator that this allocation will continue in 2022. I am happy to inform her that in budget 2022, I announced the provision of additional resources to enhance health services, including drug and alcohol services, that will benefit the north inner city. These resources include €490,000 to establish a clinical community response to alcohol service, €340,000 to support the health communities project as part of the Sláintecare healthy communities programme and €530,000 to continue health services for primary school children and young people as part of the north-east inner city initiative.

I recently announced the establishment of the community services enhancement fund to provide additional funding of €2 million on a recurring basis for community-based drug and alcohol services. From this fund, I have allocated €240,000 on a recurring basis to the community healthcare organisation, CHO, in Dublin north city and county, which includes the north inner city. The CHO will commission community-based drug and alcohol services based on an assessment of population needs. Some 25% of the funding allocated is ring-fenced to increase access to the provision of drug and alcohol services for women, ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTI+ community, who often face barriers in accessing drug and alcohol services. It is intended that drug and alcohol task forces will be centrally involved in deciding how this funding will be spent and in commissioning the services. People with lived experience of drug use will also be involved in the design and delivery of the new services.

I have been notified of a recent email, purporting to be from the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force, informing local services that the task force is no longer in a position to function. This follows the resignation of the outgoing chairperson and the impasse that has arisen regarding the appointment of a new independent chairperson. The Department is concerned with this development and has asked the channels of funding - the HSE and the City of Dublin Youth Services Board - to provide reassurance to front-line services that the allocation of €2.2 million will continue in 2022. I understand that the HSE has met with the directors of the limited company previously associated with the task force to determine if they wish to continue to receive funding to provide drug and alcohol services in 2022. Any funding will be subject to the standard governance procedures for section 39 organisations. I look forward to a positive outcome from these discussions.

There is an impasse. Senator Sherlock is correct. I look forward to working with the Senator and, indeed, all the stakeholders so that we can get over this impasse but I am assured that the services will continue. I thank the drugs task forces and their members. I value them for their time, energy and commitment. We really need task forces on the ground because they are the eyes and ears knowing exactly what needs to happen in the community. There is HSE funding and they, effectively, can direct where that funding will go. I hope that we will be able to be in a position to move forward and get over this impasse.