€12.5m fund for addict scheme

FINANCE Minister Brian Cowen has allocated €12.5 million to fund the implementation of a new national system to rehabilitate drug addicts.

The extra money accounts for most of the 29% increase given to the drugs vote within the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The total budget for the drugs initiative and the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund rises from €50m in 2007 to more than €64m in 2008.

In his budget address, Finance Minister Brian Cowen said: “Since the pre-budget outlook I have added €12.5m to fund the implementation of the recommendations of the National Drug Strategy Rehabilitation Report.

“This additional funding will allow for the development and strengthening of the local drugs task forces and for the rollout of services to new commuter-belt towns.”

Drugs strategy minister Pat Carey welcomed the funding.

“I’m very happy €12.5m has been given to implement the rehabilitation report, that is what we were looking for,” said the minister of state at the Department of Community Affairs.

He said the money would help start the implementation of the rehabilitation report, which was published earlier this year.

Previous estimates indicated about €30m was needed to fully implement all the recommendations. Central to the cost is doubling the low number of residential detoxification beds from 23 to 48 and the recruitment of additional staff.

Mr Carey said the total drugs budget reached more than €200m in 2007, when health, education and FÁS expenditure was included.