John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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177. To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Research Board LINK system National drug Treatment Recording System is used by regional drugs and alcohol task forces to make decisions on funding; if this is a policy that is being driven by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59181/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) captures information about drug and alcohol treatment in Ireland. Publicly funded drug and alcohol services are required to return information to the NDTRS for people who use their services. The most recent NDTRS bulletins on treatment data for 2020 were published by the Health Research Board in July 2021.

The NDTRS can be used as a tool to monitor and report on treatment services and to identify emerging needs; it can also be used to inform resource allocation at a regional level by CHOs and task forces. 

It is a matter for CHOs and task forces to identify and determine population needs for the provision of drug and alcohol services. NDTRS data can play a useful role in informing this process.  

I am committed to developing evidence-based policies and services, supported by high-quality monitoring, evaluation and research.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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178. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to merge the east coast regional drug and alcohol task force with another task force or to abolish it (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59182/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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There are no plans under consideration by the Department of Health to merge the East Coast Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (ECRDATF) with another task force. The Deputy may wish to engage with the task force concerned to ascertain the basis for this suggestion.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Health when confirmation of funding for 2022 will be given to drug and alcohol task forces; the criteria used for the funding recommendation and the allocation made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59183/21]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Health the differences between regional drugs and alcohol task forces, for example the way a service can be meeting all the criteria in one task force area and not in another; if the criteria used is the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59184/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.

The HSE National Service Plan 2022 will provide details on the allocation of funding to drug and alcohol task forces. It is standard procedure for the allocation of funding notices to be issued following the approval of the national service plan. 

In addition, I will shortly announce details of new funding to enhance community-based drug and alcohol services. This will include additional funding of €0.5m in Budget 2022 to increase access to and provision of community-based drug and alcohol services for women, ethnic minorities and LGBTI+. The lived experience of people who use drugs will be central to the design and delivery of the new services, as will the network of drug and alcohol task forces. This funding will be allocation using a population-based resource allocation model, as recommended in the SlainteCare reform programme.

I believe that this additional funding will strengthen the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use as

set out in the Programme for Government and support the strategic priorities for 2021-2025 under the national drugs strategy, which I recently announced.