579. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will revise the block grant funding model dispersed via the HSE mental health service in order that section 39 residential addiction support and treatment centres such as Bushypark in Ennis, County Clare receive a set amount each year rather than an allocation linked to bed nights (details supplied). [3109/22]

580. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a multi-annual budget to support the ongoing running of section 39 residential addiction support and treatment centres such as Bushypark in Ennis, County Clare to replace the current annual model based on service level agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3110/22]

Frank Feighan, Minister of State at the Department of Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 579 and 580 together.

The process for allocating funding for current expenditure processes currently operates as an annual budget cycle with the current expenditure allocations for each Government Department being confirmed for the following year at Estimates time in October each year. The detailed allocations for each Vote across Government are then published in the annual Revised Estimates Volume in December each year. 

Under the Health Act 2004 as amended, the HSE is responsible for the provision of health and personal social services and either provides such services directly or contracts agencies to provide them on its behalf. As the detail in relation to the provision of services relates to operational and service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

[See PDF for HSE response]