Still no funding drawn down or business case submitted for Northlands funding
'Harm related to substance use is one of the key public health challenges' in the North - Health Department
Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has insisted “addressing the harms of subsistence use” is a priority for him.
Mr Nesbitt was responding to a letter from Derry City and Strabane District Council regarding his Department’s withdrawal of core funding totalling £63,215 from Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre in the city and its failure to prepare the business case necessary to draw down the £1 million ringfenced for the organisation the the January 2020 ‘New Decade, New Approach’ agreement.
Describing his Department’s engagement with the British Government on funding possibilities as “ongoing”, the Ulster Unionist Party leader said: “Given the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ commitment, any such proposals will be focused on addressing specific substance use challenges in the North West.
“To this end, there will be continued engagement with NIO [Northern Ireland Office], but I can confirm at this stage no funding has been drawn down, no business case submitted, and funding has not been earmarked for any specific proposals.”
Mr Nesbitt added: “The harm related to substance use is one of the key public health challenges we face in Northern Ireland.
To truly address this issue, we need to work collectively as a Government and as a society.
“My Department is committed to working in collaboration with other Departments across the NI Executive to address the underlying cause of substance use, and tackle the issues related to deprivation and poverty that are linked to poor health outcomes, such as homelessness and loneliness.
“It is only by working holistically across all these issues that we will create the conditions to reduce substance use and the related harms.”
However, at no point in his correspondence does the Minister commit to reinstating the withdrawn core funding to Northlands.
He instead said: “My officials have been in contact with Northlands to offer feedback [on its unsuccessful application for core funding] which will assist them in applying again in future funding rounds.
“Indeed, I would hope to issue another call for applications this autumn for 2026/27 funding.”
Referring to the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ agreement, Mr Nesbitt said it was his intention the “‘Substance Use Commissioning and Implementation Plan’ which was launched in November 2024, and the associated recommendations from the ‘Western Trust Needs Assessment’ and the ‘Review of Tier 4 Services’ will inform all future funding decisions around substance use related services subject to additional funding being made available.”