Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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551. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to addiction services by 10%. [45950/24]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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552. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to community drug services by 10%. [45951/24]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 552 together.

As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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553. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost increasing funding to local drug and alcohol taskforces by 10%. [45952/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and in coordinating action at local level, so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in local communities.

Every effort has been made to protect the budgets of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in recent years. In excess of €27.88m in core funding has been allocated to Task Forces by the HSE and the Department of Health for community-based drugs initiatives this year.

The cost of a 10% increase to Local Drug and Alcohol Taskforces is approximately €2m.