Addiction service needs more funds
An addiction treatment service in Cork has urgently called on the Government to increase funding in Budget 2025 as addiction on Leeside reaches “crisis levels”.
Tabor Group, who provide residential addiction treatment services in Cork, is under considerable pressure to guarantee its 36 treatment beds in “ageing buildings that are in urgent need of upgrade”, the organisation said in a statement.
The group, which in 2023 provided support to 1,654 people, revealed this week that it is expecting shortfalls in revenue funding this year.
“Our facilities must be fit for purpose to provide people with the best possible addiction treatment experience,” said Colette Kelleher, CEO of Tabor Group.
Tabour Group’s call to Government is backed by statistics from the Health Research Board which show a 228% increase in cases where cocaine was the primary drug from 2017 to 2023.
The report also revealed a 600% increase in crack cocaine use during the same period, while finding that cocaine overtook opioids as the most common problem drug in Ireland in 2022.
According to the report, one in five drinkers in Ireland are classified with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), translating to nearly 600,000 individuals. In 2021, alcohol-related hospitalisations amounted to 18,877 in Ireland.
Ms Kelleher continued: “To continue offering high-quality addiction treatment services, Tabor Group urgently needs Government support to bring our building up to modern healthcare standards. The future of Tabor Lodge hinges on these long-overdue repairs and upgrade, which can no longer be ignored.”
Urgent need for realistic revenue funding
To ensure the sustainability of its services, Tabour Group is hoping to secure an uplift in revenue funding that is maintained year on year.
As part of the Addiction Treatment Centre of Ireland (ATCI) pre-budget submission, the organisation is requesting a €250,000 increase in funding. This support will allow the service to retain its dedicated staff, keep pace with rising wage inflation, and cover increasing pension costs. Without this funding, Tabour Group said its ability to provide vital addiction treatment services will be severely compromised.
In addition to revenue funding, Tabor Group is seeking an urgent capital investment of €2 million in public funding for the necessary upgrade to their flagship facility, Tabor Lodge in Belgooly which the group said is in “dire need of modernisation”.
“Addiction services have been at the back of the queue for too long,” said Ms Kelleher.
“It’s time to prioritise people needing addiction treatment and provide the funding required to save lives and support recovery,” she concluded.