Written answers

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Department of Health

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1070. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government to examine the way to support local drugs and alcohol taskforces in identifying local need in communities and support targeted initiatives addressing drug and alcohol misuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22130/21]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The National Drugs Strategy ‘Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery’ sets out the Government’s strategy to address the harm caused by substance misuse in Ireland up to 2025. The Department of Health provides over €130 million to drug and alcohol services to support the strategy.

Drug and alcohol task forces play a key role in implementing the national drugs strategy at the local level. They assess the extent and nature of the drug problem and initiate appropriate responses, so that there is a coordinated approach involving all sectors to the problem of substance misuse in local communities and local communities are consulted in the design and deliver services.

The Department of Health provides €28m in funding to the 24 drug and alcohol task forces that operate throughout the country in defined geographical areas. The Department engages with key stakeholders in the network of drug and alcohol task forces and takes input on the level of need in local communities, from those service providers working in the community. This in turn informs decision-making relating to the allocation of funding and provision of services.

The Department of Health has developed a 'Framework for the ‘Restoration and Continuation of Drug and Alcohol services', in a planned and appropriate manner in line with public health advice. To support the Framework, the Department provided once-off funding of €480,000 in November 2020 for the restoration of drug and alcohol services including the adaptation of services, premises, online meetings, and personal protective equipment.

An additional €1 million was provided in Budget 2021 to develop targeted drug and alcohol initiatives through the network of drug and alcohol task forces. The allocation of this funding will be informed by the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy and strategic action plan 2021-2025, which will be finalised shortly.

Over the last few months, I have met with drug and alcohol task forces to discuss support for their work in identifying and responding to local needs, including the challenges for people who use drugs during Covid-19.

I want to ensure that the additional resources are directed towards those interventions which are most likely to lead to a reduction in problem drug use and a positive improvement in public health. In particular, the funding should be used to expand the availability of drug and alcohol services in communities based on identified need, especially in communities that have limited access to services at the moment. I will announce details of the new €1m funding programme shortly.

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