247. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to the Dublin Simon Community 100 bed health and addiction care facility located at Usher's Island, Dublin 8, if he can now confirm that the operational funding required will be in place before the opening of this critical and much needed development in Dublin city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25118/24]

Emer Higgins, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: This is not a matter for the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment.

The Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Housing are committed to working collaboratively to enhance access to healthcare and drug treatment services for people who are homeless. The Department of Health has allocated dedicated multi-annual funding of c €47 million to the HSE for the provision of healthcare services for people who are homeless. This includes additional funding of €5m in 2024 to maintain and consolidate improvements in healthcare services for people who are homeless and to provide healthcare supports for a further 260 tenancies under the Housing First programme.

An example of this collaboration is the joint funding for the new medical and addiction care facility being developed by the Dublin Simon Community at Ushers Island. The Department of Housing has provided capital funding of c €35m to Dublin Simon Community to construct a medical and addiction treatment facility for people who are homeless, with capacity for up to 100 beds. The Department of Health has committed to provide additional funding to meet the ongoing operational costs associated with the delivery of health services in the new facility, subject to the necessary funding being approved through the Estimates process. It was estimated in 2019 that an additional €3m in funding would be required to meet full year costs when the new facility is fully operational.

There are two phases in commencing the new facility. Phase one is to move the existing 51 beds from decanted facilities into the new facility. Funding for these beds is provided by the HSE, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and Dublin Simon Community. Phase two is to increase the capacity of the new facility to provide an additional 49 beds.

New development funding of €1m is available in 2024 to meet the additional operational costs of the new facility. The business case for the additional 49 beds, including costings, is currently being reviewed by the HSE in conjunction with the Dublin Simon Community.

Before the Department of Health can move forward with allocating additional funding for the operational costs of the 100-bed facility, it is critical that the funding for current service provision for the 51 beds is secured. The Department is in discussions with the HSE,  the Department of Housing and Dublin Simon Community to ensure that the funding for Phase one of this initiative is secured. 

Minister of State at the Department of Health, Minister Colm Burke, is committed to working collaboratively with the Minister for Housing to provide additional funding to meet the ongoing operational costs associated with the delivery of healthcare services in the new medical and addiction care facility being developed by the Dublin Simon Community at Ushers Island.