Louth TD says Dundalk FASN needs recurring funding to continue its work

The issue of core, multiannual funding for the Family Addiction Support Network (FASN) in Dundalk was raised in Leinster House last week by Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú who said recurring funding must be made available for it to continue its “significant work.”

The Sinn Féin TD asked Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton about the pathways available to FASN for multiannual funding.

Minister Naughton said there is funding available through the North-eastern Regional Drugs and Alcohol Task Force and added that Merchant’s Quay Ireland (MQI) is also funded to provide family-based support services in Louth and Meath.

But Deputy Ó Murchú said that in 2008, many groups like regional task forces had their funding ‘slashed’.

He said:

“We all know the issues that exist at this time in regard to drug addiction and drug crime.

“We have not seen the sort of funding that is required. A lot of positive stuff has happened under the Drogheda implementation plan and the new board, but we are starting from way behind.

“The Gardaí recognises that the Family Addiction Support Network is doing significant work.

“The organisation offers a service the Gardaí cannot offer in dealing with families who are going through an absolute disaster.

“It also offers a route map for people who would not necessarily go directly to Gardaí because of the stigma, fear and severe pressure they are under as a result of drug debt intimidation.

“We have been talking about the issues for a long time.

“The Gardaí have been involved in direct fundraising for this organisation. It is a crazy situation and we need to do far better.”
In response, Minister Naughton said:

“It is important that the organisation in question engages with the regional task force, which can provide technical assistance to prepare its business case for funding.”

Deputy Ó Murchú said:

“Let me be clear. The Family Addiction Support Network has had a huge amount of engagement with the drugs and alcohol task force.

“In fairness, the latter has put in business plans and requests for funding that have not necessarily been met at this point.

“However, the requests that have been put in probably would not cut the mustard in regard to the particular issue we are dealing with, namely, the drug addiction crisis and the pressures families are under as a result.

“As I outlined, State agencies use this organisation.

“It is not some organisation that exists in a silo and only imagines it is doing really good work.

“Christy Mangan, the former Garda chief superintendent for Louth, is still personally involved with it on the basis of the work it has done in the past.

“ As I said, the Gardaí is involved in fundraising every year to keep the organisation afloat.

“We really need to look at how we deal with organisations like this one.

“When I speak to people in Turas Counselling, the Red Door Project and the Dundalk Counselling Centre, they all talk about the issue of corporatism and the difficulties of dealing with State agencies in regard to funding.”