803. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated in each of the past five years to address addiction issues for ethnic minorities, by year, in tabular form. [34093/23]

804. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated in each of the past five years to address addiction issues for members of the LGBTQIA community, by year, in tabular form. [34094/23]

Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 803 and 804 together.

In 2021 the Department of Health announced a €2 million fund to enhance community-based drug and alcohol services. The Community Services Enhancement fund (CSEF) is part of the strategic priority to enhance access to and delivery of drug and alcohol services in the community in the national drugs strategy 2021-2025. Twenty-five percent of the funding allocations is ring-fenced to increase access to and the provision of drug and alcohol services for women, ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. This acknowledges that women, ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community can face barriers in accessing drug and alcohol services.The level of funding provided to services is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.