Elton John charity to fund needle centres

SIXTY FIVE extra needle exchanges are to be set up in pharmacies around the State.

The new partnership between the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Elton John Aids Foundation and the Irish Pharmacy Union was announced by the HSE yesterday.

The security of future funding of the project has been criticised by Fine Gael TD and spokeswoman on the National Drugs Strategy Catherine Byrne.

The foundation is to help the setting up of the new services with some £750,000 (€837,000) over the next three years, but after that it will be HSE funded.

“Although the HSE says they are committed to continuing this programme there is no certainty as to the funding after the Elton John charitys involvement ends after the initial three years,” Ms Byrne said.

Funding the roll-out of a needle exchange network would have lasting benefits and help “anyone in the community who has to use injecting equipment in the future”, said Anne Aslett, director of the Elton John Aids Foundation.

Tony Geoghegan, of the homeless and drugs service Merchants Quay Ireland, said he supported the HSE’s plan to roll out a national service.

The organisation had 942 new clients attending its needle exchange last year and has recently called heroin use a national crisis.

Singer Elton John said he was “delighted the Irish Government has chosen to promote proven methods to mitigate the danger of HIV”.