Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Government is committed to addressing problem drug use in a comprehensive way, as is clear from the programme for Government. Our overall strategic objective is to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by having a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research.

As Minister of State, I fully recognise the work of the drugs task forces as an indispensable element of the overall national drugs strategy in delivering on local action plans. These plans identify existing and emerging gaps in services in each of the pillars of the strategy and support a range of measures covering the pillars. The drugs task forces provide a mechanism for the co-ordination of services and strategies in their areas while, at the same time, allowing local communities and voluntary organisations to participate in the planning, design and delivery of those services. The measures being implemented by the drugs task forces are designed to complement and add value to the range of interventions being delivered through the State agencies.

Some €29.95 million has been allocated to the drugs initiative in 2013, the bulk of which contributes to the running of community-based drugs projects supported by local and regional drugs task forces. The drugs task forces have allocated funding to projects and initiatives, such as those the Deputy outlined, based on priorities identified in their respective areas, and 323 projects are in place. The types of projects being supported include delivering services such as advice and support for drug misusers and their families, community drug teams offering treatment, outreach and crisis intervention services, and drug training programmes for community groups.

A total of €1.53 million has been allocated to the Cork local drugs task force in 2013. Some 20 projects have been funded through the task force providing a range of services and supports to tackle problem drug use in Cork city.

I am working hard to ensure the optimum use is made of available resources. The Government has to operate within the current budgetary framework and it is inevitable that we have to make cost reductions. I assure the House of the Government's commitment, in particular my commitment, to the national drugs strategy and to the work of the drugs task forces, including the Cork drugs task force. We will continue to ensure available resources are directed towards tackling the drug problem, in particular at local level.

I hope to be in a position in the coming weeks to confirm the 2014 allocations for each of the drugs task forces. I am not in a position to give an account of final decisions in that regard today. I am paying very close attention to this matter. As late as this afternoon, I was addressing this issue. Tomorrow afternoon I will meet representatives of the local drugs task forces nationwide. On Thursday we have a meeting of the oversight forum on drugs. This issue is a very live one for me. I thank the Deputy for raising it. I know of his commitment in this area. I know we intend to do the very best we can on the 2014 allocations in the context of the financial constraints that exist.

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