John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy will be aware, the majority of expenditure allocated through my Department to community groups involved in drugs initiatives is channelled though the local and regional drugs task forces. Of the total drugs funding in my Department's Vote in 2009, more than 92% is targeted at task force-related activities.

The revised allocation, following the supplementary budget in April, for community-based initiatives in the local and regional drugs task force areas is €32.5 million, which will support approximately 530 projects. No area is immune to cost cutting measures in the current economic environment. It is in this context that all drugs task forces must live within the budgets allocated for their areas of responsibility and I fully appreciate this involves a requirement to make some difficult choices.

Sustained incremental funding over recent years has facilitated, amongst others, the strengthening of existing projects in the local drugs task force areas, the rolling out of a range of projects and initiatives in regional drugs task force areas, the introduction of new initiatives and responses to address cocaine usage and to support rehabilitation, as well as ongoing investment in capital projects. These are recognised by the Government as key areas to support communities to address the harm caused by problem drugs use and to deliver meaningful solutions. I assure the Deputy that my primary concern has been and continues to be the protection of front line community-based services delivering vital programmes and initiatives in areas worst affected by problem drug use.

I am acutely aware of the challenges that reduced budget allocations pose. Other Departments and agencies also are aware of this issue in the context of their engagement in the drugs strategy and the available funding to them for the mainstream drugs projects and services. However, we must take account of the current economic reality and of the pressure on the public finances. Inevitably, this means that some schemes will be affected. Properly managed, however, this also may lead to improved efficiencies in services and may foster better interagency working to the benefit of all.

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