Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Minister of State is very aware of the work of local drugs task forces. On 2 October the co-ordinator of the Cork local drugs task force wrote to all the elected representatives in the Cork area, in particular the members of Cork City Council, some of whom are members of that task force. To co-ordinator outlined some of the cuts they have had to endure since 2008 and the impact they are having on the delivery of services in this area. It has become all the more critical because at a recent joint policing committee meeting, the chief superintendent indicated to those present that Garda detection of drug possessions has increased. Cork city has a growing problem with heroin, and the agencies are doing considerable work to try to stem that and keep it under control. There have been a number of deaths as a result of heroin use in Cork city.

The task force was established in 1997 to try to address some of the growing alcohol and drug issues local communities were facing. Since 2008 it has had a 23% decrease in its budget, almost €500,000. At present it has approximately 21 local projects and since 2008 it has ceased funding about eight of those projects because the money taken from its budget has meant that cuts have had to be made. There has been a reduction in opening hours and even staff losses in some projects. I am sure the Minister of State is familiar with the work these task forces do in the Dublin region. They fund local community and voluntary groups and statutory agencies, and they play a pivotal role in combating not only the rise of drug use but also alcohol abuse. They also play a pivotal role in educating schoolchildren of the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. The funding cuts to the local drugs task forces are having a real impact. Without a change in policy and unless some of the cuts are reversed, we will condemn more young people to a life of drug or alcohol abuse, which will end up costing the State in the longer run.

On behalf of the communities I and other Deputies represent, I ask that the funding to local drugs task forces not be cut. At the moment, the Cork local drugs task force does not even know what its budget for next year will be. Therefore it has been unable to plan any of the initiatives or programmes it wants to implement. It does not even know how much funding will be taken out. In turn, the local projects have been unable to agree implementation plans. I ask that this be conveyed to the co-ordinator of the local task force as soon as possible.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I recognise we are in very tough economic times and that difficult budgetary decisions have to be made. I am not laying all the blame for this at the feet of the Minister of State, because there have been reductions in funding to the Cork local drugs task force since 2008 and it is not the sole responsibility of this Government. In those years there has been a steady decrease in the level of service provision, which is inevitable if money is taken from an entity such as the Cork local drugs task force which funds 21 projects in the city and county which are doing sterling work. In some cases very tough decisions made at local level have resulted in the reduction of funding to some local projects which has had a very detrimental impact on that local community. Staff with experience and expertise have been let go because the money is not available. Is it the co-ordinators of the local drugs task forces whom the Minister of State is meeting tomorrow?

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The chairs.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

They need to know their budgets for next year as quickly as possible, as I am sure the Minister of State would agree. We cannot have local projects, dependent on funding from the local drugs task force, not being able to plan and co-ordinate activities for next year. I cannot stress that too much. When I sat on the local drugs task force, when we did not know how much funding we were getting, we could not advise the local projects how much funding they were getting. They all have work plans they want to put in place and they know how much those will cost. Much of that is dependent on the funding. When setting the budgets for the local drugs task forces for next year, I appeal to the Minister of State if at all possible at least not to reduce their allocation. They have had reductions every year since 2008 and they cannot take any more.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I cannot argue with anything the Deputy has said on the work the drugs projects do and the desirability or necessity of having clarity on the funding for next year. I will arrange for that to be done as soon as possible, but I need some more time to finalise the matter. I would like to be able to inform the House that there will be no reduction, but I cannot say that. My job is to curtail the reduction, as I am doing. That is what I did last year and I intend to do it again this year as best I can.