merrion street

The Department of Health welcomed the announcement by Pobal of the amounts to be allocated to a range of project proposals and initiatives submitted under the latest round of the Dormant Accounts Fund. The projects, which were successful following a competitive bid process administered by Pobal, will support people with disabilities and substance misuse prevention initiatives.
The projects, which are being co-ordinated on the Department’s behalf by the Health Service Executive (HSE), have been selected across the following five measures:
· Local area co-ordination in disability services;
· Advancing best practice in meeting National Standards for Residential Services for People with Disabilities and 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, employment;
· Person-centred innovations in the delivery of non-centre based respite services for people with disabilities;
· Substance misuse prevention initiatives.

Full details on all measures, and the amounts to be allocated to successful organisations, are available on Pobal’s website: www.pobal.ie

The allocations were welcomed by the Minister of State for Social Care and Primary Care, Kathleen Lynch and the Minister of State with special responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.

Minister Lynch said ‘I am delighted that many community and voluntary sector organisations have developed innovative ways of providing services to people with a disability which assist them in living as full a life as possible in their local community. I am also pleased to see that many local communities around the country are working together to progress innovations in respite care that are community-focussed and person-centred. Another key measure targets health–related supports to assist young people aged 15 to 24 with disabilities and autism to prepare for the transition to further education, training and employment. I wish all the projects and participants every success in their endeavours and I look forward to hearing of their progress in due course.”
In relation to the substance misuse prevention measure, Minister Ó Ríordáin commented ‘I very much welcome the approval of substance misuse prevention initiatives under the Dormant Accounts Fund. These initiatives, which will be undertaken by Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, include the development and rollout of local alcohol strategies, drug and alcohol awareness raising initiatives and research. The range of initiatives supported by this funding will empower local communities and organisations to create and implement a common strategy aimed at addressing the harm caused by problem drug and alcohol misuse in line with the National Substance Misuse Strategy. Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in responding to the problem of substance misuse at a local level, and are ideally positioned to involve local communities in tackling the problem of substance misuse from the ground up”.
Pobal CEO, Denis Leamy said:​ "Pobal was impressed by the high quality of applications received from disability groups and those working in the area of substance misuse. Through Pobal’s regular interaction with these organisations we see the significant impact they are having at local level so we know that this Government funding will make a real impact. Over the course of the programme, Pobal will continue to work with the recipients to provide guidance, support and backup. "