608. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the planned funding for drug and alcohol task forces in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9854/23]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)

The Department of Health provides €28 million in recurring annual funding for 280 community-based drug and alcohol services, under the ambit of drug and alcohol task forces. In 2019, additional funding of €1m was provided for a number strategic initiatives, including €240,000 in core budgets.

Enhancing access to and delivery of drug and alcohol services in the community is a strategic priority under the national drugs strategy. In line with this priority, €2 million was allocated under the Community Services Enhancement Fund in 2022 to enhance community-based drug and alcohol services, in conjunction with CHOs and drug and alcohol task forces.

In Budget 2023, an allocation of €500,000 is made to increase the provision of community-based drug and alcohol services to address new and emerging patterns of drug use (see attached factsheet). A further €3.5m is provided to maintain existing level of service for community and voluntary providers of drug and alcohol services and inclusion health services. This will deliver a substantial uplift in grant agreements with service providers to cover cost of living and operational cost increases. I will announce the allocation of these additional funds to individual projects shortly.

In addition, I recently announced once off inflation funding of €3.9m for drug and alcohol and social inclusion projects. This will provide a once-off payment in recognition of the impact of inflation on the cost of delivering services The payment is the equivalent of 3.5% of the annual grant allocation. Further information can be found at:

www.gov.ie/en/press-release/4fd65-health-ministers-announce-81m-in-once-off-funding-for-voluntary-and-community-providers/

I am committed to strengthening the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use, through reducing the harms for individuals, families, communities and by promoting rehabilitation and recovery.