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DASH must find own funding, says chief minister

The chief minister says the drug and alcohol advice service DASH must find long-term funding itself to avoid closure.

Allan Bell has responded to an urgent question in the Keys from North Douglas member John Houghton, who wants government to intervene with funding to prevent the charity folding.

DASH applied for £200,000 from the seized assests fund to cover running costs for another two years, but was turned down and after 17 years, faces imminent closure.

It lost government funding in 2012 when the contract for addiction services was awarded to Motiv8, formerly the Alcohol Advisory Service.

Mr Bell said it was a solution which met the Island's needs and avoided duplication

Mr Houghton accused him of going back on promises made to DASH: (first part of audio clip)

Allan Bell agreed to speak to Treasury about the seized assest fund.

But he rejected Mr Houghton's accusation and said he'd personally made efforts to keep the charity afloat: (second part of audio clip)

Clip 1

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