Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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229. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of the pilot drug monitoring scheme at a music festival (details supplied) in 2022. [25277/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, 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.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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230. To ask the Minister for Health the number of stepdown facilities, by county; and the number of beds open in each. [25278/23]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is an operational 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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231. To ask the Minister for Health the number of mobile needle exchange facilities, by CHO. [25279/23]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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232. To ask the Minister for Health the number of pharmacy needle exchange facilities, by CHO. [25280/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 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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233. To ask the Minister for Health if a business plan has been drafted for the supervised injection facility in Dublin; and if so, the estimated cost of this. [25281/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The legislation providing for the establishment, licensing and operation of supervised injecting facilities refers to the operation of a facility in respect of certain premises. The Government decision approving the provision of supervised injecting facilities envisages the establishment of such a facility in Dublin city centre on a pilot basis.

An Bord Pleanala (ABP) approved planning permission for Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) to establish the SIF in December 2022. The HSE and service provider are developing plans to progress the establishment of this facility. This includes a revised estimate of the costs to run the service.

I am committed to supporting the establishment the supervised injecting facility in Dublin city, in order to reduce the number of lives lost through drug overdose.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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234. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated to addressing crack cocaine use to date in 2023. [25282/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Over €130 million a year is allocated to the HSE for the provision of drug services. There is annual funding of €29m to drug and alcohol task forces for community-based services.

Developing harm reduction responses and integrated care pathways for high-risk drug users including responses to the use of cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine is a strategic priority for the National Drugs Strategy for the period 2021-2025. This initiative will also contribute to a whole of government response to the social determinants and consequences of drug use in disadvantaged communities.

In 2022, the Department allocated €850,000 in recurring funding for a HSE-led initiative to reduce the health-related harms associated with the use of cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine, with funding of €200,000 per annum allocated to CHO 3, CHO 4, CHO 7 and CHO 9.

The funding supports models of best practice in cocaine treatment, including the development of training programmes for addiction service staff nationally, and the establishment of targeted interventions in disadvantaged communities worst affected by cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine.

The four pilot initiatives are now operational (in Midwest Community Healthcare [CHO3], Cork Kerry Community Healthcare [CHO4], Community Healthcare Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow [CHO7] and Community Healthcare Organisation Dublin North City and County [CHO9]).

In addition, €2m was allocated under the community services enhancement fund for community-based drug services in 2022. The fund formed part of the strategic priority to enhance access to and delivery of drug and alcohol services in the community in the national drugs strategy 2021-2025. Between €200,000 and €240,000 per annum was allocated to the nine community healthcare organisations (CHOs), who then commissioned community-based drug and alcohol services based on an assessment of population needs, in conjunction with drug and alcohol tsk forces.

An example of a project funded under the CSEF which is specifically focused on crack cocaine is the Law Engagement & Assisted Recovery (LEAR) programme, operated by Ana Liffey Drug Project in Limerick city and funded by Midwest CHO. This programme was developed following research carried out by University of Limerick on the experience and health needs of crack cocaine users in the region.

As Minister, I am committed to supporting both HSE and community-led initiatives to tackle cocaine and crack cocaine, in line with the strategic priorities for the national drugs strategy 2022-2025.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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235. To ask the Minister for Health the funding made available to an initiative (details supplied) to date in 2023. [25283/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, 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