Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 61 together.

The Government has allocated in excess of €95 million to support more than 450 projects contained in the plans of the task forces since 1997. In addition to the moneys available under the action plans in this way, the premises initiative is designed to meet the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects, the majority of which are in local drugs task force, LDTF, areas. To date, more than €12.8 million has been allocated to projects under this initiative.

Each of the local drugs task forces has in place an action plan to tackle drug misuse in their area, based on their own identified priorities. These action plans include a range of measures covering local supply, education and prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The task forces continue to have regular contact with the local communities in which they are based.

Two rounds of plans have been approved for funding to date and these plans are at various stages of implementation in the local drugs task force areas. Furthermore, round II projects which are up and running have to be evaluated with a view to deciding whether there is a case for mainstreaming. At this stage in the process it would not be prudent to make decisions on further rounds of funding for LDTFs.

However, it was brought to my attention last year that demands for services in a number of LDTF areas were arising in the context of changing trends in drug misuse. In view of this I announced an emerging needs fund earlier this year specifically to address pressing needs to deal with gaps in service provision that were not being adequately addressed through existing LDTF measures. To date, I have allocated approximately €181,000 under this fund and other applications are under assessment.

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