merrion street

The Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan TD, has today welcomed confirmation that community drug projects in Tallaght – Jobstown Assisting Drug Dependency (Jadd) and Community Action Response Programme (Carp) – are continuing to provide services, including crack cocaine services.  

HSE addiction services fund both projects under section 39 service level agreements, with a total allocation for community drug projects in Tallaght of €2m per annum. Jadd receives annual funding of €364,000, including an additional €70,000 since August 2021 to support clients attending HSE methadone treatment services. Carp receives annual funding of €170,000, including an additional €20,000 since quarter 4 of 2021 to provide services for women who use crack cocaine.  

Minister Feighan said: “‘I am a strong supporter of community services as they are accessible, flexible and responsive to local needs, and welcome assurances that both Jadd and Carp are continuing to provide vital services and supports for people in Tallaght.  

“The HSE have confirmed these two projects will receive a combined annual funding of €530,000 in 2022. This includes an additional €90,000 provided in quarter 4 of 2022 to support an expansion of services. The HSE will consider further requests for funding as part of service-level agreement reviews in 2022.” 

The projects in Tallaght will also be eligible to benefit from the €240,000 that has been allocated to Community Healthcare Dublin South West & Kildare as part of a new €2m fund to enhance community-based drug and alcohol services, as well as forthcoming funding for communities affected by crack cocaine.

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Notes to Editor 

Jadd provides support services for clients and families with addiction problems, including: 

• Education Rehabilitation Courses at FETAC Level 3 and 4 Major Awards.  
• Community Counselling Service. 
• Childcare Services: Pre-school, Creche, Homework Club and Afterschool Activities. 
• Community Support drop in which provides substance abuse information to local schools. 
• Up to 70 Clients attending for Medical and Methadone community support services. 
• Family Support Tuesday evenings. 
• Drop-in – Average 30 individuals per day. Brief Intervention and Crisis Intervention, Appointments, 
• Assessments, Advocacy networking services, Residential Placements, Housing Support. 
• Strengthening Families Tuesday evenings. 
• Harm Reduction Health Promotion 7 days a week 

Carp provides a response to drug issues in Killinarden; its services include: 

• Youth services - work with young people in the community aged 12 to 25 years of age that are struggling with an addiction or at risk of engaging in substance misuse. 

• Family therapy - offers families an approach to build or maintain a healthy, functional family.   
• Family support - Carp work collaboratively with Whitechurch Addiction Support Programme to offer a family support group.   
• Methadone clinic - four HSE appointed doctors to provide this service. Individuals struggling with opioid addiction attend to see an HSE doctor and receive Methadone maintenance treatment. The methadone maintenance clinics are scripting clinics only and do not dispense medication   
• Addiction counselling - takes place in a one-on-one setting. The one to one setting is a safe space that provides the client with a confidential opportunity to discuss their relationship with substances and the impact it is having on their life and the life of others they care about.   
• Slanú - a Special Category Community Employment Scheme for 18-25-year-olds that aims to provide rehabilitative support and vocational training to help stabilise drug misusers.   
• Urinanalysis/drug testing - Although this service is a routine part of the Methadone clinic, it is also available for service users who may require urinalysis for other purposes.   
• Needle exchange/harm reduction – a free of charge needle exchange service, providing clean injecting and smoking equipment. We also support anyone who wishes to reduce their use and seek advice about unsafe use. Harm reduction can be described as a set of practical approaches to reduce negative consequences associated with drug use.   
• Polish counselling - the introduction of a Polish addiction support service in 2013, was followed by offering the Alcohol Anonymous fellowships space to offer a weekly support group.   
• Fellowship meetings - a space for individuals to share their experiences, strengths and hopes with the aim of recovering from addictive behaviours.   
• Homeless drop In - service is for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Tallaght and the surrounding areas.   
• Key working - CARP is one of few teams in Dublin 24 to have a full staff team trained and accredited in evidence based practice.   
• Crack cocaine programme - incorporates evidenced based approaches and non-judgemental engagement to support women where they are at in their life.