Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The young people's facilities and services fund was established by Government in 1998 to assist in the development of youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. The objective of the fund is to attract "at risk" young people into these facilities and divert them away from substance misuse. The fund currently covers the 14 local drug task force areas in Dublin, Bray and Cork, as well as projects in Limerick, Waterford, Carlow and Galway. The possibility of expanding the number of urban areas which are eligible for funding from the young people's facilities and services fund may be considered in the coming period. Any decision in that regard would be based on evidence of a significant drug problem in a particular centre or the potential for a drug problem to develop. In that regard, I have recently received a paper from the national drugs strategy team, prepared under action 85 of the national drugs strategy, which identifies the urban areas of greatest need based on treatment numbers, seizures of heroin and cocaine and a number of indicators of socioeconomic disadvantage. Clonmel is not identified as a priority in this paper.

The ten regional drugs task forces, including the south-eastern regional drugs task force which covers the Clonmel area, are now implementing the actions plans for their regions and a sum of €5 million has been allocated this year in that regard. Opportunities for funding projects in Clonmel may arise in this context, given that the south-eastern regional drugs task force allocation is approximately €900,000 for 2006. The Deputy may also be aware that a portion of the allocations from the dormant accounts scheme in 2006 is ring-fenced for RAPID areas such as Clonmel. In this regard, I am pleased to advise that an allocation of €180,000 to Clonmel Community Partnership was approved in July. This provision will pay for the refurbishment of a community facility, staffing for two youth workers, and activities and developmental programmes for young people in the Clonmel area.

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