Northlands funding cut raised with Tánaiste

The Irish government remains committed to the £1 million ring-fenced for Derry’s Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre in the January 2020 ‘New Decade, New Approach’ (NDNA) agreement.

NDNA is an international agreement between Irish and British governments and the political parties in the North.

Answering a written Dáil parliamentary question from Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the Irish government remained “fully committed to the full implementation of the agreement”.

Mr Harris added that the North’s Department of Health now needed to “develop a business case” in order to draw down the £1 million. Following the Department of Health’s withdrawal of core administration and housekeeping funding totalling almost £64,000 from Northlands in April.

Mr Tóibín asked the Fine Gael leader if the Irish government remains committed to the New Decade, New Approach commitment for £1 million for an addiction centre in Derry.

The Tánaiste’s response was: “The New Decade, New Approach agreement reached in January 2020 was a significant achievement by the political parties in Northern Ireland and the two Governments to restore the power-sharing institutions first established by the Good Friday Agreement.

“We remain fully committed to the full implementation of the agreement.

“I am aware of the matter raised by the Deputy in respect of a funding commitment made by the UK Government for an addiction centre in Derry.

“The implementation of this commitment is a matter for the UK Government and the devolved authorities. I understand that there is ongoing and regular contact between UK Government officials and their counterparts in the Department of Health, and that is now for the latter to develop a business case arising from this commitment.”

The controversy surrounding the Department of Health’s failure to develop a business case to enable it to draw down the £1 million NDNA funding for Northlands re-ignited following the launch of the "Mammoth Northlands Fundraising Initiative” on Tuesday.

A steering group has been established to “manage six months worth of fundraising events with all proceeds going directly to Northlands”.

Local comedian and mental health advocate Max Roddy, well-known actor Andy Doherty, and addiction campaigner Thomas Campbell have come together to help what they describe as “plug the gap that has been left following funding cuts to Northlands in recent months”.

Mr Roddy said: “I was angry when I saw that not only around £70,000 had been cut from Northlands but that £1 million that had been promised still hadn’t been delivered.

“Everyone in Derry knows someone who has benefitted from Northlands, and we can’t let such an important service lose out, so we decided to take matters into our own hands, with Northlands’ support, to raise money which will go directly to the service.

“We will also be reaching out to those who have gone through Northlands and are continuing their recovery so they can tell their stories and show our city and beyond how much this service means to them.

“Every few weeks, we will be releasing these heartfelt testimonials about the journeys of local people into a service that saved their lives and how much of an impact it has made to their lives now.”

On foot of the ‘Mammoth Northlands Fundraising Initiative’ announcement, the Derry News asked all of the main political parties in the Derry and Strabane District if it was “morally acceptable that the Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre, dealing with the epidemic levels of addiction in the North West should have to resort to crowdfunding to sustain its life-saving services because its core funding has been withdrawn by the Department of Health?”

In response, Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said: “People in Derry are incredibly generous and they know how valuable the Northlands service is.

“But we shouldn’t be in this position, there is £1m from the British Government available to fund addiction services in the city.

“The Department of Health needs to live up to its obligations and Ministers need to issue firm direction to get this across the line.

“Five years of waiting for money that is available right now is an absolute scandal.”

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mr Eastwood raised the impact of funding cuts to the Northlands Centre.

The former SDLP leader was seeking clarity from the British government on the promised £1million for Northlands and addiction treatment provision in Derry under the terms of the New Decade New Approach Agreement.

The Northern Ireland Office confirmed that they are still waiting on a business case from the Department of Health for the release of the committed resources.

He said: “The Northern Ireland Office Minister has confirmed to me again this morning (Wednesday) that they are waiting on a business case from the Department of Health for the funding to be released to support addiction services in Derry.

“We are five years on - there is simply no excuse for the stance the Department have taken. That’s why I have written to Michelle O’Neill and Emma Pengelly as joint heads of government to explain why Executive Departments are abdicating their responsibilities to the people of Derry.

“This is too important for the people we represent. The money needs to be delivered so that Northlands can continue their lifesaving work.”

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UUP Alderman Darren Guy, the party which holds the Health Ministry, said: “Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre does amazing and genuinely invaluable work in support of those in need.

“We welcome any initiatives and fundraising efforts to help sustain the delivery of that work. However, like the Foyle Hospice, we feel neither should have to rely on public donations to support operational costs.

“Regrettably, after bids from 259 organisations to the recent Core Grant Scheme totalling over £13m, despite a budget of only £1.8m, demand far, far outstripped supply. Immediately after the outcome of the scores was known I raised the issue of Northlands directly with the Minister and he gave me a commitment that his officials would contact Northlands to offer feedback on their recent application, which we both hoped would assist them in applying successfully in future funding rounds.

“It’s important to remember however that the Core Grant was not the only source of HSC funding for Northlands. The centre is contracted to a much higher financial level for the provision of really important services by both the Western and Northern HSC Trusts. I’ve been assured by the Department of Health that that funding remains the same,” the Deputy Mayor said.

Public meeting to discuss Northland's funding cut

Northlands is 'a vital component to our local and regional healthcare system'

Public meeting to discuss Northland's funding cut

Northlands is 'a vital component to our local and regional healthcare system'

Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson said: “The loss of core funding from the Department of Health has caused significant shock and concern in the city, given the vital role the centre plays in supporting those with addiction issues.

"Sinn Féin has raised our concerns directly with the Health Minister, emphasising that at a time when addiction remains a major issue affecting so many families, we should be investing in services like these — not cutting them.

"Sinn Féin has met with Northlands and is committed to working with the organisation to support its future sustainability.

"We have also arranged a meeting with the Western Drug and Alcohol Coordination Team to explore how we can best support individuals in the city facing addiction in the time ahead.”

The Department of Health reiterated a previous comment it had given The Derry News regarding the withdrawal of funding from Northlands.