P.45 Fighting addiction, resourcing recovery
Sinn Féin believes in a community-led, rehabilitation and recovery-focussed model for fighting addiction. Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Taskforces received less funding last year than they did in 2010. Funding in 2022 amounted to €27,884,265, which is €3,063,335 less than 2010. We would return significant funding, equivalent to an 11% increase, to taskforces which are best placed to fight addiction in their communities. Those working on the frontline in the addiction sector are best placed to implement programmes and initiatives that will benefit individuals and families battling addiction. We would support these community bodies with a robust and integrated health service which can provide inpatient facilities and wraparound supports in the community. We would open recovery, rehabilitation, and detoxification beds to make inroads into capacity deficits. We would invest significantly in primary care and mental health services; dual diagnosis services; and integrated IT solutions. As we move to a universal healthcare model over the lifetime of our 5-year Community Addiction and Recovery Strategy, we would waive assessment fees for addiction treatment.

To fight addiction and resource recovery, Sinn Féin would:
• Open 40 new public recovery beds and 24 new public inpatient medical detoxification beds - €28.4 million
• Fund 25-place recovery-specific housing programmes with wraparound supports - €5.8 million
• Return funding for Drug and Alcohol Task Forces to 2010 levels - €3 million
• Fund two regional community sector substance-related brain injury rehabilitation teams - €2.3 million
• Fund an additional family support worker in each taskforce, 24 additional community development worker posts, and localised dual diagnosis services - €4 million
• Fund a range of community supports for women, problem gambling, sports inclusivity, alcohol action, and waive all addiction assessment fees – €1.7 million

See, Table 26. Cost of additional addiction and recovery services in 2023