€2.7M Announced To Support People With Disabilities & Substance Abuse Prevention Initiatives Very Welcome

I welcome  the announcement that €2.7m is being made available under the Dormant Accounts Fund to help support people with disabilities and for substance abuse prevention initiatives.

The Department of Health is sponsoring five measures coordinated by the HSE:

-substance abuse prevention initiatives

-person-centred innovations in the delivery of non-centre based respite services for people with disabilities

-local area coordination in disability services

-advancing best practice in meeting National Standards for Residential Services for People with Disabilities - minor capital and training initiatives

-health-related supports to assist young people with disabilities and autism to make the transition from second level education to further education, training and employment

I particularly welcome the inclusion of health-related supports to assist young people with a disability or autism who are making the crucial transition from secondary school to the next stage of their life.  This can often be an anxious period in the individual's and families' life as it marks a new routine and new challenges to face.  Additional assistance in this transition is very welcome.

The focus on advancing best practice in residential services for people with disabilities is also very important and something I have worked on locally for some time.  It is of the utmost importance that residential services are in line with HIQA and provide the best care possible for the service user.

I would also like to welcome the focus on substance abuse prevention initiatives.  I have met with local stakeholders regarding the ongoing substance abuse issues in our community particularly for the under 18s.  I am committed to working with local partners and my colleagues in Government to address substance abuse and how this can best be prevented and treated locally.

Applications are open to eligible community and voluntary sector organisations and statutory and other public agencies from July 1st.  The closing date for applications is July 22nd.  The five measures sponsored by the Department of Health and coordinated by the HSE will be administered and managed by Pobal.

Pobal are providing a series of four regional pre-application information meetings during the month of June.

Full details on all measures, the online application process, and how to register for the pre-application meetings are available from Pobal’s website on www.pobal.ie.