Written answers

Tuesday, 10 May 2022

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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705. To ask the Minister for Health the number of addiction rehabilitation beds currently open by facility. [22712/22]

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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706. To ask the Minister for Health the number of addiction detox beds currently open by facility. [22713/22]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 706 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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707. To ask the Minister for Health the funding given to addiction family support services by CHO in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. [22714/22]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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708. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the stabilisation facility for Cork; and the location of same. [22715/22]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to the stabilisation facility funded through the additional €4 million announced in Budget 2021. €2m of which was allocated to increase residential treatment services for people with severe drug and alcohol dependency across the country, including a step-up stabilisation facility in CHOs Cork/Kerry, Mid-West and South East and a low threshold programme in Dublin North East Inner City. This funding was approved in 2021.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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709. To ask the Minister for Health the funding given to each taskforce in 2022. [22716/22]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The funding allocated to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces at the beginning of 2022 is set out in the attached table and remains unchanged from 2021.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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710. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the north inner city task force in Cork. [22717/22]

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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760. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in respect of funding his Department and the HSE provide to the North Inner City Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force; if he has engaged with the body in respect of resolving the governance issues his Department cited in the context of the suspension of its funding. [23006/22]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 710 and 760 together.

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 (NICDAFT). The City of Dublin Youth Services Board (CDYSB), and the HSE (CHO Dublin North City and County) act as channels of funding for the administration of this funding to front line drug and alcohol projects. CDYSB administer in the region of €394,856 to four front line drug and alcohol projects in NIC on behalf of the Department of Health. The HSE acts as a channel of funding for the distribution and oversight of €2.025m in funding to services in the NIC.

The Department has asked the HSE and the CDYSB to provide reassurance to the front-line services that funding will continue in 2022. In this regard, the Department understands that HSE has recently met with each of the funded organisations as part of the annual Service Level/Grant Aid Agreement process.

In 2021, the HSE allocated €244,473 for the NICDATF company for office programmes and resources. The HSE holds a Service Level Arrangement (SLA) with the company for the delivery of these activities. The Department understands that the HSE met with the company on 13thJanuary and again on 10thMarch in relation to service delivery issues, including the parameters of funding in 2022 that could be provided to the company. It was agreed that a work plan could not be developed while the task forces is not functioning. Consideration will now be given to re-allocating the funding of €224,000 for the provision of drug and alcohol services in the north inner city.

The Department of Health remains committed to addressing the drug and alcohol issues affecting the north inner city in conjunction with community-based service providers and has provide significant additional resources in Budget 2022 for drug and alcohol services in the area and north Dublin region.

The Department is continuing to work with stakeholders in the north inner city to establish effective, inclusive, and transparent governance of the task force and of the funding that it allocates. It is currently engaged in a consultation process with members of the task force and other stakeholders on the next steps.

The Department has recently met with local councillors from Dublin City Council, and with front line services funded under the ambit of the CDYSB and the HSE to get their views. Further meetings with stakeholders are planned.

I look forward to getting a report on the consultation process and to identify the next steps to establish effective, inclusive, and transparent governance of the task force in the north inner city.

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