Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

There is a process involved in developing and building up a critical mass of appropriate staff. In many cases, it will take a number of months to get the key projects up and running. That is all being driven at local level, in co-operation with the national drugs strategy team. There is no block or hold in terms of the Department's role. All the plans from the regions were estimated to cost €12.5 million and to take approximately three years to implement. The task forces have been given approval for €5 million, which is more than enough for this year. Next year, they will probably be given another couple of million, as they develop and get projects up and ready to roll out.

Garda numbers in Dublin are up by approximately 600.

See this speech in context