TD seeks funds for addiction services as north county experiences long wait for support

A Cork TD has called for funding to be increased for addiction services after figures from the HSE show that families in North Cork are currently facing waiting times of up to 12 weeks to access addiction support.

The figures, released following a parliamentary question from Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn, highlight that the Cork local drug and alcohol task force funding has remained unchanged at €1.08m a year since 2021.

Answering the question, the HSE noted that people referred to the community addiction hub in North Cork face a waiting time of 12 weeks, while in Kerry the waiting time is a total of 20 weeks.

This is in comparison with Cork City North, where the waiting time is three weeks and in Cork City South, where there is a waiting time of two weeks for addiction support.

The HSE figures also reveal that over the same period since 2021, residential addiction treatment beds for Cork and Kerry have not increased. There were 111 beds in 2021 and currently there are 110, with the number of short-stay beds at Tabor Lodge reduced from 14 to 10.

Calling on the Government to increase the funding made available, Mr O’Flynn said that people should not have to face such significant delays when it comes to accessing addiction support.

He said: “Not a cent more in six years. Everything has gone up in price since 2021, but the money for addiction services in Cork hasn’t moved.

“If you live in North Cork and you finally work up the courage to ask for help, you wait 12 weeks. In the city you wait two or three. Addiction doesn’t wait 12 weeks.”

“I am asking the minister to increase the Cork task force’s funding in 2027 and to fund the North Cork and Kerry hubs properly, so people there are seen as quickly as people in the city.”

The Echo contacted the HSE for comment.