John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

As I outlined earlier today, the Government is firmly committed to tackling the problem of drug misuse in our society. The doubling of funding targeted at community-based initiatives funded through my Department's Vote, from €31.5 million in 2003 to more than €64 million in 2008, is, I believe, clear evidence of that commitment.

The reduction in the 2009 funding allocation to my Department for the drugs initiatives must, therefore, be viewed in that context. This year, the budget for community-based initiatives in the local and regional drugs task force areas, including funding for new cocaine and rehabilitation measures introduced during the year, will come to nearly €34.8 million. While the funding available for 2009 has not yet been finalised, I expect the comparable figure to be approximately €34.4 million, a relatively small reduction. It is important to note that funding for projects in drug task forces' action plans in 2009, which comprise the bulk of the funding in my Department, will be maintained at 2008 levels, that is, €32 million.

The drugs strategy is based on a co-ordinated effort across many Departments and Government agencies and the Department's allocation is only part of a much larger investment programme in drugs services by these other bodies. In 2006, it was estimated that expenditure on drugs programmes across all the bodies was approximately €220 million. This figure is being updated by my Department for 2007.

As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the management and operation of the young people's facilities and services fund is in the process of being transferred to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, OMYCA. In this context, more than €20 million in capital and current funding is transferring from my Department's Vote to the OMCYA. I am confident that the OMYCA will assist groups in every way it can as they make adjustments to their operations to allow for savings next year.

The bulk of the remainder of my Department's allocation under the drugs strategy funds the work of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, the national drugs strategy team, the Family Support Network and CityWide, all of which must identify some savings in 2009. My officials are working to identify those at present.

I assure the Deputy that my Department is making every effort to ensure that the daily front line services provided across all of the programmes and schemes it operates are protected as much as possible. On the drugs side, we will continue to liaise with the task forces, other relevant agencies and the national drugs strategy team over the coming months to ensure the continued operation of vital services in disadvantaged areas most affected by drug misuse.

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