Written answers
Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Department of Health
Departmental Funding
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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971. To ask the Minister for Health if, further to the announcement of additional annual funding of €3.5 million for drugs and inclusion health services, he will provide further details on how this additional funding is to be allocated if this money is to be used to remediate deficits in local and regional drug and alcohol task force projects' funding; if it will apply to all DATF projects, including those projects that are not aligned to or channelled through the HSE; if so, the role DATFs have in its allocation; if the additional monies will be recurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40179/23]
Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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976. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1788 of 11 September 2023, how this funding will be delivered; and whether DATFs will have a role in this or if it will come through the HSE. [40203/23]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 971 and 976 together.
I recently announced €3.5 million in annual funding to maintain existing level of drugs and inclusion health services provided by community and voluntary organisations. The funding is recurring. gov.ie - Minister Naughton announces additional annual funding of €3.5 million for drugs and inclusion health services (www.gov.ie). www.gov.ie/en/press-release/5d2c8-minister-naughton-announces-additional-annual-funding-of-3-5-million-for-drugs-and-inclusion-health-services/.
The funding recognises the important role of community and voluntary groups in providing drugs and inclusion health services, and acknowledges the increased costs of providing these essential services.
Funding of between €330,000 and €445,000 per annum has been allocated to the CHOs to support existing services. It includes funding for a HSE coordinator post for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force. In allocating this new funding, CHOs should engage with drugs and inclusion health service providers and, where appropriate, relevant coordinating structures such as drug and alcohol task forces.
It is envisaged that the funding will be distributed via the CHOs in Q3 2023. For further information, it is suggested that drug and alcohol task forces contact their local CHO.
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