Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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450. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a centre (details supplied) is not in receipt of funding from her Department while at the same time being requested to cater for former prisoners by the prison and probation services, many of whom would be homeless without the support offered by the centre; if she will review the work they do and consider them for resources. [1363/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I understand the centre referred to provides residential drug rehabilitation services for persons in need of such addiction services but that offenders are not referred to this facility by the Probation Service. The Service does however liaise with the centre when it happens that one of its clients is also in receipt of services there.

While it is recognised that substance abuse and addiction is a contributing factor to offending behaviour, the Deputy may wish to note that the Health Service Executive (HSE) is the established principal provider and funding body of medical and non-medical services for both illicit drug and alcohol use delivered through its Social Inclusion Services.