Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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776. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the new Action Plan under the National Drugs Strategy. [39211/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Strategic Implementation Groups have been established to support the implementation of the six strategic priorities for 2021-2025, identified in mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery. These priorities will strengthen the health-led approach, reflect commitments in the Programme for Government and align with the EU drugs strategy and action plan 2021-2025.

The new structures reflect the partnership approach and give a stronger voice to civil society by broadening and deepening the involvement of community and voluntary groups in the implementation of the strategy. Membership of the Groups is comprised of representatives from Government departments and agencies, drug and alcohol taskforces and civil society.

Independent leadership has been provided to ensure the accountability of all stakeholders and to bring impartiality, insight, and experience in addressing the challenges of drug and alcohol use. The independent chairs from each implementation group have become members of the National Oversight Committee. There are no Government departments acting as chairs for these Strategic Implementation Groups.

Strategic Implementation Groups will be responsible for developing their own action plans. Chairs will report to the National Oversight Committee on the progress made within their respective groups. The next meeting of the National Oversight Group is scheduled for September.

I am committed to the partnership approach and giving a stronger voice to civil society organisations in developing national policy.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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777. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the reopening of keltoi. [39212/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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778. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who have used keltoi by month in 2022 [39213/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 777 and 778 together.

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

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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779. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on work being done by his Department to prepare for the Citizen’s Assembly on Drugs. [39214/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Government has established two concurrent citizens' assemblies; one dealing with biodiversity loss and the other with the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin. It is proposed that a Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use will directly follow these two assemblies, with the intention of running it concurrently with the Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education, if learnings from the concurrent running of assemblies suggest that this operational model is the best way forward.

In line with this decision, the Department of Health has commenced preparations for the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use, and, to this end, detailed discussions regarding the assembly took place at the most recent meeting of the National Oversight Committee for the National Drugs Strategy. These preparations are being undertaken to ensure that there will be no delay in establishing this citizens’ assembly when the two assemblies which are currently operating complete their work before the end of this year or in quarter 1, 2023 at the latest. This will allow a period of over one year for the Government to consider its recommendations.

The Government is pursuing a health-led approach to drug use through the health diversion programme, which offers compassion, not punishment to people who are in possession of drugs for personal use. The programme will connect participants with health services and provide a pathway to recovery. It will also allow participants to avoid a criminal conviction, which can have far-reaching consequences, particularly for younger people.

As we prepare for the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use, work continues to implement the health diversion programme and the strategic priorities for the remaining four years of the national drugs strategy. One of these priorities is to promote alternatives to coercive sanctions for drug-related offences. This priority aligns with the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan, 2021 – 2025, which actively encourages Member States to scale up alternatives to coercive sanctions and to monitor and evaluate their effectiveness for drug using offenders and for people arrested, charged with or convicted for drug-related offences or people found in possession of drugs for personal use.

I am very positive about the potential contribution of the citizens assembly to the government's health-led response to drug use. Drug use affects all members of society, whether directly or indirectly, and imposes very significant social and financial costs. Involving citizens in decision-making on drugs policy is therefore appropriate.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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781. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of funding to the north inner-city drugs and alcohol task force. [39246/22]

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 (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 frontline services that funding will continue in 2022. In this regard, the Department understands that HSE has 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 13th January and again on 10th March 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.

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.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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782. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for the provision of nurse prescribing of opioids. [39248/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Goal 2 of the National Drug Strategy sets out to minimise the harms caused by the use and misuse of substances and promote rehabilitation and recovery. The strategy recognises that people who inject drugs are a particularly vulnerable population that are susceptible to harm and need carefully managed supports to enable them to attain stability and a safer and healthier life.

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic people with substance misuse issues and including those dependent on opioid substitution treatment were classed as group at high risk of catching the virus.

The HSE’s priority during the COVID-19 crisis was to continue to deliver Opioid Substitution Services and to ensure everybody waiting commenced appropriate treatment.

This work is continuing and in Budgets 2021 and 2022, I secured significant additional funding of €17 million to support the implementation of the health actions in the national drugs strategy. Further resources of €10 million were provided to meet the health needs of people experiencing homelessness and addiction during the Covid-19 pandemic. An allocation of €4 million was provided to support the expanded access to opioid substitution treatment for people who use drugs during Covid-19.

Among other things, the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) in my Department provides policy advice to me and my Department across a broad range of areas, including nurse prescribing.

While the continued delivery of Opioid Substitution Treatment was a priority during the pandemic, my Department is working with stakeholders to expand services in the area of nurse prescribing, including nurse prescribing of opiate substitution treatment. It is intended that this issue will be considered in more detail in the near future.

I am committed to supporting people with substance misuse issues on their journey to recovery.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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783. To ask the Minister for Health the funding allocated in each of the past five years to address addiction issues for women by year, in tabular form. [39249/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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784. To ask the Minister for Health the funding that has been allocated in each of the past five years to address addiction issues for ethnic minorities by year, in tabular form. [39250/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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785. To ask the Minister for Health the funding that has been allocated in each of the past five years to address addiction issues for members of the LGBTQIA community by year, in tabular form. [39251/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 783 to 785, inclusive, together.

My Department does not collect data on the allocation of funding in relation to the specific categories requested by the Deputy.

In Budget 2022, an additional €6m was provided for new measures to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy, 'Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery'. This funding is being used to strengthen the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use and to support the strategic priorities for 2021-2025 identified in the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy.

In December 2021, I announced the Community Services Enhancement Fund, with €2 million to enhance community-based drug and alcohol services. The fund is part of the strategic priority to improve access to, and delivery of, services in the community. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme which will enhance community care and move care into the community and closer to people’s homes.

I am aware that women, ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community can face barriers in accessing drug and alcohol services. In this context, I have ring-fenced twenty-five percent, €.5 million, of the Community Services Enhancement Fund to increase access to and the provision of community based drug and alcohol services for women, ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community.

I am confident that this measure will assist in addressing barriers that some women and minority groups face in accessing drug and alcohol services.

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.

gov.ie - Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy announces €2 million Community Services Enhancement Fund for drug and alcohol services (www.gov.ie)

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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786. To ask the Minister for Health if a funding stream is available for relevant organisations to celebrate recovery month. [39252/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not provide specific funding for recovery month.

Over €136 million in labelled public expenditure is spent on drugs every year by my department. Much of this funding is channelled through the HSE to support the implementation of the national drug strategy.

Under the Health Act 2004, as amended, the HSE has responsibility for the provision of health and social personal services including addiction and recovery services.

The HSE either directly provides these services or arranges to have them provided on its behalf. Many organisations working in addiction recovery are funded by the HSE.

I welcome the fact that some organisations, during Recovery Month, are taking the opportunity to raise awareness of recovery and celebrate individuals from all walks of life who have managed to carry out a successful recovery.

Supporting recovery is key to the National Drug Strategy, which aims to minimise the harms caused by the use and misuse of substances and promote rehabilitation and recovery. Recovery is a personal journey, and rehabilitation a process, that supports and encourages the individual at each stage along the pathway to recovery.

I fully support a health-led approach to recovery and acknowledges that a successful outcome for every individual can look different.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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787. To ask the Minister for Health the average waiting time by facility for addiction rehabilitation and detox services. [39253/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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788. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons availing of a community detox programme in each of the past five years in tabular form. [39254/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 787 and 788 together.

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