Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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672.To ask the Minister for Health to confirm that the operational funding for the critical and much-needed development (details supplied) for adults who find themselves with complex needs and who want to transition out of homelessness, as committed to by Cabinet in February 2019 supported by the Taoiseach himself as Minister for Health, and agreed to by the Departments of Housing and Health, will be in place prior to the expected opening of the facility in June 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25504/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Housing are committed to working collaboratively to enhance access to healthcare and drug treatment services for people who are homeless. The Department of Health has allocated dedicated multi-annual funding of c €47 million to the HSE for the provision of healthcare services for people who are homeless. This includes additional funding of €5m in 2024 to maintain and consolidate improvements in healthcare services for people who are homeless and to provide healthcare supports for a further 260 tenancies under the Housing First programme.

An example of this collaboration is the joint funding for the new medical and addiction care facility for people who are homeless in Dublin city, referred to in the Deputy's question. The Department of Housing has provided capital funding of c €35m to construct a new medical and addiction treatment facility for people who are homeless, with capacity for up to 100 beds. The Department of Health has committed to provide additional funding to meet the ongoing operational costs associated with the delivery of health services in the new facility, subject to the necessary funding being approved through the Estimates process. It was estimated in 2019 that an additional €3m in funding would be required to meet full year costs when the new facility is fully operational,

There are two phases in commencing the new facility. Phase one is to move the existing 51 beds from decanted facilities into the new facility. Funding for these beds is provided by the HSE, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and the organisation developing the new facility. Phase two is to increase the capacity of the new facility to provide an additional 49 beds.

New development funding of €1m is available in 2024 to meet the additional operational costs of the new facility. The business case for the additional 49 beds,, including costings, is currently being reviewed by the HSE in conjunction with the relevant organisation.

Before the Department of Health can move forward with allocating additional funding for the operational costs of the 100-bed facility, it is critical that the current funding for the operational costs of the existing 51 beds is maintained in the new facility. The Department is in discussions with the HSE, the Department of Housing and the relevant organisation to ensure that this funding is secured.

I am committed to working collaboratively with the Minister for Housing to provide additional funding to meet the ongoing operational costs associated with the delivery of healthcare services in the new medical and addiction care facility for people who are homeless in Dublin city.