The Taoiseach:

I thank the Deputy for raising a very important and serious issue. The report to which he referred highlights this serious issue, which has also been well profiled in media assessments of the report. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, will shortly be announcing funding of €1 million to increase access to, and the provision of, community-based drug and alcohol services. That will support the work of drug and alcohol task forces, with a proportion of it to be allocated to community healthcare organisation, CHO 7, which includes Tallaght and south-west Dublin. In budget 2022, the Minister provided an additional €6 million for new measures to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy and strengthen the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use, as set out in the programme for Government.

The Tallaght drugs and alcohol task force receives annual Government funding of €1.2 million. Officials in my Department are working with the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, with a view to looking at an area-based approach again to the issue of drug misuse in areas of disadvantage.

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