2023 marks Coolmine’s 50th anniversary of
providing quality drug and alcohol services
to marginalised members of Irish society.
From its early beginnings, Coolmine believed
that everyone should have the opportunity to
overcome addiction and lead a fulfilled and
productive life. Today, Coolmine operates 15
service centres and 22 satellite services across
the East, Mid-West and South West regions of
Ireland.
We are delighted to present Coolmine’s
Strategic Plan 2023-2026 Responsive and
Sustainable Recovery. This plan sets out
our objectives, framed within our National
Drugs Strategy, for the coming 4 years. This
new plan is based on extensive internal and
external consultations with clients, staff, and
management and board at Coolmine as well
as our external stakeholders and funders.
We have a clear and meaningful vision. In this
new strategic plan, we transfer this vision into
action. Set within four strategic objectives, we
will deliver 31 strategic actions for Coolmine,
over the next four years.
In partnership with our state funders, we
will open a new residential Therapeutic
Community facility. We shall increase
our targeted responses and placements
across all our services for women, children,
traveller community members, and those
in the criminal justice system. Our existing
and new services will be underpinned by
Clinical Governance excellence, including
our CCQI accreditation by the Royal College
of Psychiatry UK, through a robust and
continual clinical audit and quality assurance
programme.
This strategic plan sees Coolmine commit to
a reduction of our carbon footprint through
the delivery of an Environmental Plan across
our services and facilities. We shall utilise our
expertise to influence policy and increase
public awareness of addiction and recovery in
Ireland. In addition, we intend to deliver 10%
of our annual budget through fundraising
campaigns. During the lifetime of this new
plan, we shall commence the redevelopment
of two significant refurbishment projects in
Dublin West and the Mid-West in partnership
with the HSE and Local Authorities to
upgrade our residential facilities. Responsive
Sustainable Recovery will deliver consistent
and effective support for our staff in their
place of work to ensure they can achieve
their potential. Key to this strategy will be the
delivery of pay parity for our staff.
As we launch this new Strategic Plan, we
are witnessing a long overdue and historic
national conversation on drug use in Ireland
through the Citizens Assembly on Drugs.
Our Health Research figures tell us that
problem drug use is increasing. Furthermore,
recent research tells us that problem drug
and alcohol use disproportionally affects the
most socially deprived areas in our society.
All of this points to the need for significant
investment to increase harm reduction,
treatment and recovery services across Ireland.
Listening attentively and purposefully is
the cornerstone of Coolmine’s work. In this
strategic plan, we commit to building on
our national client forum and participation
structures. Empowering our clients to use their
voice, enables us to maintain a truly client-centred
approach where Coolmine continues
to evolve and remain responsive to their presenting needs.
Coolmine Board members contribute their
time and expertise to achieving Coolmine’s
vision on a voluntary basis and we thank
them all individually. The next four years will
see the organisation transform and this will
be attributable to our staff and volunteers.
We thank them for their dedication, flexibility
and willingness to take on new challenges
as we embark on the implementation of this
strategy.
Coolmine does not work in isolation. We thank
all of our funders, corporate partners and peer
agencies whose support and cooperation
we rely on to meet the presenting needs of
our clients. We look forward to our continued
work together to ensure everyone has the
opportunity to overcome addiction and lead a
fulfilled and productive life.
-Alan & Pauline
Read the full strategy document:
