Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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67. To ask the Minister for Health the organisations that are now providing services previously provided by the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force given his that Department has suspended the activities of the task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7692/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health provides €2.249m per annum to community-based drug and alcohol services under the remit of the North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Task Force. The City of Dublin Youth Services Board, and the HSE act as channels of funding for the administration of this funding to front line drug and alcohol projects. The Dept of Health has not suspended funding to any organisation providing drug and alcohol services under the remit of the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force.

The task force has informed local services that it is no longer in a position to function. The Department has asked the HSE (CHO Dublin North City and County) and the City of Dublin Youth Services Board, to provide reassurance to the frontline services that funding will continue in 2022.

I understand that the HSE has met with each of the funded organisations over the past three weeks as part of the annual Service Level/Grant Aid Agreement process and has not been made aware of any reduction, interruption in or impact to service delivery.

I understand that the HSE met with the company associated with the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force on 13th January in relation to service delivery issues, including the parameters of funding in 2022 that could be provided to the company. I would advise the company to engage directly with the HSE to discuss its proposed programme of drug and alcohol activities in 2022.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the affordability measures in healthcare pledged in Budget 2022. [7911/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government set out the pathway for expanded access to health care in keeping with the vision and ideals of Sláintecare.

We promised to expand universal access to healthcare in a manner that is fair and affordable.

We have delivered and are continuing to deliver on that commitment.

The funding allocated to Health in Budget 2022 is the biggest ever investment package in Ireland’s health and social care services and demonstrates the Government’s commitment in the Programme for Government to deliver Universal Healthcare in a number of important areas.

€11.5 million was provided to fund the reduction in the Drugs Payment Scheme monthly threshold for an individual or family household from €114 to €100 on 1 January this year. Last week the Government announced a further reduction to €80 which will be effective from 1 March this year.

The combined effect of those two reductions in the DPS threshold will be an annual saving of €408, or 30%, for any individual or household that regularly exceeded the 2021 threshold of €114.

Budget 2022 also included provision for the expansion of free GP care to all children aged 6 and 7. My officials and the HSE are already engaged in preparatory work, and I expect to be in a position to bring forward proposals to the IMO later this quarter.

A sum of €10 million was provided on top of the 2022 Estimate allocation of €56 million to improve the viability and sustainability of the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS).

Funding of €4.5m has been provided for measures to alleviate the financial burden associated with hospital charges for children accessing care in a public hospital. My Department is currently working on preparing the necessary legislative amendments, and it is my intention to introduce the legislation in the Oireachtas later this year.

The roll out of a free contraception programme for women and girls aged 17-25 is expected to commence in August 2022, at a cost of approximately €9 million.