Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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398. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether there is a need to follow up on the issues raised by all political parties and groups in Dáil Éireann on 28 June 2018 as part of the statements on the national drugs strategy in view of budget 2019. [39760/18]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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As a first step in implementing the national drugs strategy, the Government provided an additional €6.5 million for drug-related actions. This is on top of the €250 million spend every year on drug and alcohol services and programmes across all government departments and state agencies. The main priority in 2018 was to expand provision of drug and alcohol treatment services and to reduce waiting times.

Over €27.85m has been allocated to Task Forces by the HSE and the Department of Health for community-based drugs initiatives this year. This level of funding is consistent with the amounts provided for the last four years. This included an additional €250,000 in one off funding to improve the organisational effectiveness of the Task Forces in implementing the national drugs strategy.

I recently announced €1 million in once-off funding to support and enhance addiction services nationwide. This included €290,000 in funding for Task Forces for community-based initiatives. In addition, €710,000 was allocated to the HSE to fund priority projects and services and new initiatives in the nine CHO areas, to be identified following consultation with the task forces.

I am very conscious of the growing demands and pressures on drug and alcohol treatment services around the country. The provision of additional funding for drug and alcohol addiction services, including task forces, will be considered in the context of the estimates process for 2019. As the estimates process is ongoing it is not possible for me to comment in advance on the outcome of this process.