John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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1358. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the report recently launched by Tallaght drugs and alcohol task force with regard to emerging trends in relation to drugs and crack cocaine in particular. [62987/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The report published by the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force highlights the problems relating to drug use in Tallaght, including crack cocaine. Similar issues affect other disadvantaged communities.

The report indicates that crack cocaine is a multi-dimensional problem that reflects the social determinants of drug use in disadvantaged communities, linked to unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion. It is also an inter-generational issue, as some families and children are caught in a cycle of parental drug use, addiction, trauma, and hidden harm.  The problem requires an inter-agency response, involving An Garda Síochána, the education and youth services, the HSE, local development agencies and community organisations. 

Two community projects, Jadd and Carp, continue to provide important drug and alcohol services for residents in the locality, including those who use crack cocaine. The HSE provides over €500,000 per annum to support these services. 

I recently announced funding of €2m to enhance access to and the provision of community-based drug and alcohol services on a population needs basis. This funding will support the work of drug and alcohol task forces. €240,000 will be allocated to CHO 7 (which includes Tallaght and south-west Dublin).

On 14 January I announced  €850,000 in recurring funding for an HSE-led initiative to expand harm reduction responses to high-risk drug use, such as cocaine and crack cocaine, at national level and in local communities.  The funding will support models of best practice in cocaine treatment, including the development of training programmes for addiction service staff nationally. It will also establish targeted interventions in disadvantaged communities worst affected by cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine.

I would encourage the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force to engage with HSE addiction services in CHO 7 on these new funding initiatives.