John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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433. To ask the Minister for Health following the publication of the action plan for housing and homelessness four months ago the status of the progress made to date on action 1.15; the specific details of the improvements to be made to mental health and primary care for homeless persons as a result of increased funding of between €2 million and €6 million in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35044/16]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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434. To ask the Minister for Health following the publication of the action plan for housing and homelessness four months ago the status of the progress made to date on action 1.16; the progress being made in identifying and meeting the rehabilitation needs of homeless persons with addiction issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35045/16]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.

Over €30m in HSE funding is used, on an annual basis, to provide targeted interventions aimed at improving health outcomes for homeless persons, who are more likely to experience health inequalities and difficulties in accessing services and present with multiple, complex health and support needs. Additional funding of €1.715m has been allocated from the €2m available to the HSE in 2016 to address mental health needs of homeless persons in the Dublin region. This funding is being used to provide care and case management to homeless persons in a number of supported accommodation settings in Dublin City Centre. In-reach GP, nursing and mental health nursing services provided to these settings have also been enhanced as a result of the additional funding.

I am committed to ensuring that improvements in mental health and primary care services for homeless persons achieved during 2016 are sustained over the course of the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The priority for 2017 will be to ensure that the health-related needs associated with the provision of homeless accommodation and tenancies are addressed, with a view to ensuring that vulnerable homeless people have access to primary care and mental health services, where required. To this end, the HSE has been asked to provide the appropriate level of resources in the 2017 Service Plan to deliver on Action 1.15 of the Government's Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is developing a new National Drugs Strategy which will cover the period from 2017 onwards. The rehabilitation needs of homeless people with addiction issues, many of whom have comorbid mental health problems, will be addressed through the development of the new National Drugs Strategy.