Written answers

Tuesday, 5 March 2019

Department of Health

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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331. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the revision of the task force handbook; and when the new handbook will be ready. [10730/19]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Drug and alcohol task forces play a key role in implementing the national drugs strategy, by assessing the extend and nature of the drug problem in local communities and in initiating appropriate responses, so that there is a coordinated approach involving all sectors.

The Department established a working group to review and update the handbook for drug and alcohol task forces in September 2018. The working group is considering the remit of the task forces to promote community involvement and to coordinate service provision in partnership with the statutory, community and voluntary sectors and the requirements for governance, financial management, decision-making and accountability.

The working group has representatives from task forces, the community and voluntary sector, the Department of Health and the HSE, along with an independent expert.

The working group is continuing its deliberations. It is anticipated that its work will be completed in quarter 2, 2019.

I look forward to receiving the report of the working group in due course.

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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332. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the former emerging needs fund which catered for a quick response to local issues and needs was productive in assisting drugs and alcohol task forces; and his plans to reinstate the fund. [10731/19]

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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333. To ask the Minister for Health if extra funding will be provided to drugs and alcohol task forces to meet the challenge of drug-related gangs in Dublin in view of the recent upsurge in serious drug-related anti-social behaviour in areas (details supplied). [10732/19]

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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334. To ask the Minister for Health the funding being provided to drug and alcohol task forces in 2019; the equivalent figures in each of the years 2014 to 2018; his plans to increase funding for same during 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10733/19]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 334, inclusive, together.

The Department of Health allocated funding of almost €100 million to the HSE for addiction services in 2019. The HSE National Service Plan 2019 sets out the type and volume of addiction services to be provided, having regard to the funding allocated.

In addition, the Department provides a further €28 million to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces through various channels of funding, including the HSE.

Implementing the health-led national drugs strategy continues to be a Government priority. Task forces have an important role in delivering the strategy at the local level.

I am committed to providing additional resources to enhance service provision under the national drugs strategy. I consider that resources should be directed towards those interventions which are most likely to lead to a reduction in problem substance use and positive improvement in public health, safety and well-being.

Within the limited envelope of resources available for drug and alcohol services in 2019, I am considering options for the provision of additional funding for addiction services and task forces. I will shortly be engaging with the task forces to outline my plans for additional funding for community initiatives to tackle the misuse of drugs and alcohol.

A table follows outlining the allocations to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces from 2014 to 2019.

Funding allocations to drug and alcohol task forces 2014 to 2019

LDATF2014 DOH2014 HSE2015 DOH2015 HSE2016 DOH2016 HSE2017 DOH2017 HSE2018 DOH2018 HSE2019 DOH2019 HSE
Ballyfermot€461,150€1,025,582€255,446€1,231,286€255,446€1,231,286€255,446€1,231,286€255,446€1,231,286€255,446€1,231,286
Ballymun€632,817€488,098€422,958€697,957€422,958€697,957€422,958€697,957€422,958€697,957€422,958€697,957
Blanchardstown€179,305€913,589€179,305€913,589€179,305€913,589€179,305€913,589€179,305€913,589€179,305€913,589
Bray€573,860€916,271€573,860€916,271€573,860€916,271€573,860€916,271€573,860€916,271€573,860€916,271
Canal Communities€338,605€1,141,309€338,605€1,141,309€338,605€1,141,309€338,605€1,141,309€338,605€1,141,309€338,605€1,141,309
Clondalkin€388,114€1,007,948€388,114€1,007,948€388,114€1,007,948€388,114€1,007,948€388,114€1,007,948€388,114€1,007,948
Cork€411,988€1,108,299€411,988€1,108,299€411,988€1,108,299€411,988€1,108,299€411,988€1,108,299€411,988€1,108,299
Dublin 12€74,013€990,134€70,997€993,150€70,397€993,750€70,397€993,750€70,397€993,750€70,397€993,750
Dublin NE€422,251€594,836€422,251€594,836€239,971€777,116€239,971€777,116€239,971€777,116€239,971€777,116
Dun Laoghaire€94,676€786,755€94,676€786,755€94,676€786,755€94,676€786,755€94,676€786,755€94,676€786,755
Finglas Cabra€263,277€627,960€263,277€627,960€263,277€627,960€263,277€627,960€263,277€627,960€263,277€627,960
NIC€576,956€1,652,623€494,856€1,734,723€394,856€1,834,723€394,856€1,834,723€394,856€1,834,723€394,856€1,834,723
SIC€255,720€1,788,337€176,043€1,868,014€176,043€1,868,014€176,043€1,868,014€176,043€1,868,014€176,043€1,868,014
Tallaght€452,712€782,240€341,438€893,514€336,022€898,930€336,022€898,930€336,022€898,930€336,022€898,930
Total LDATF€5,125,444€13,823,981€4,433,814€14,515,611€4,145,518€14,803,907€4,145,518€14,803,907€4,145,518€14,803,907€4,145,518€14,803,907
RDATF2014 DOH2014 HSE2015 DOH2015 HSE2016 DOH2016 HSE2017 DOH2017 HSE2018 DOH2018 HSE2018 DOH2018 HSE
East Coast Area€58,200€508,500€58,200€508,500€58,200€508,500€58,200€508,500€58,200€508,500€58,200€508,500
Midland€307,810€491,497€136,816€662,491€136,816€662,491€136,816€662,491€136,816€662,491€136,816€662,491
Mid-West€147,982€1,260,007€147,982€1,260,007€147,982€1,260,007€147,982€1,260,007€147,982€1,260,007€147,982€1,260,007
North East€0€927,813€0€927,813€0€927,813€0€927,813€0€927,813€0€927,813
North West€272,485€447,878€258,633€461,730€258,633€461,730€258,633€461,730€258,633€461,730€258,633€461,730
North Dublin City & Co.€456,080€321,184€309,778€467,486€266,245€511,019€266,245€511,019€266,245€511,019€266,245€511,019
South East€0€1,065,760€0€1,065,760€0€1,065,760€0€1,065,760€0€1,065,760€0€1,065,760
South West€102,820€696,497€102,820€696,497€102,820€696,497€102,820€696,497€102,820€696,497€102,820€696,497
Southern€0€973,178€0€973,178€0€973,178€0€973,178€0€973,178€0€973,178
Western€136,994€524,155€136,994€524,155€136,994€524,155€136,994€524,155€136,994€524,155€136,994€524,155
Total RDATF€1,482,371€7,216,469€1,151,223€7,547,617€1,107,690€7,591,150€1,107,690€7,591,150€1,107,690€7,591,150€1,107,690€7,591,150
Overall Total€27,648,265€27,648,265€27,648,265€27,648,265€27,648,265€27,648,265

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