Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I have answered questions asked by Deputy O'Dowd on this issue several times, but he continues to give inaccurate information. He has got six months out of it, so fair play to him, but the publication of the Estimates tomorrow will necessitate an updating of his speech.

The local drug task forces facilitate the delivery of a targeted response to the drug problem. They bring together the key organisations in the statutory and voluntary sectors to work with the local community and elected representatives in developing responses appropriate to local circumstances. A key aspect of the local drug task forces is that they are not preaching down from on high. They are not telling people how to operate at local level. A good partnership arrangement exists between the Departments, the statutory agencies and the communities. The good work that has been done by local drug task forces in recent years has been properly funded.

The Government has allocated over €65 million in the last six years for the implementation of approximately 500 projects in the 14 drug task force areas. In addition to the moneys available under the action plans, capital funding has been made available under the premises initiative. This initiative is designed to meet the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects, the majority of which are in local drug task force areas. More than €11 million has been spent on meeting the accommodation needs of 38 capital projects. The Government has spent almost €60 million on the youth facilities and services fund because it recognises that telling young people not to fall into the trap of drugs is not enough. Alternative and healthy lifestyle options must be provided in many disadvantaged areas. Young people are encouraged to engage in sport or arts projects. Some €59 million has been spent in recent years on the fund, which continues to do good work.

The Government has decided to extend the task force model because it recognises that the drug problem now affects many parts of the country. While it is proposed to apply the same principle – an area-based co-ordinated response founded on partnership between the various sectors – it is recognised that adjustments will have to be made if the model is to be successfully replicated at regional level. The regional drugs task forces will operate from a wider geographic base than the local drugs task forces in Dublin. The regional task forces will serve diverse communities in urban and rural areas. The establishment of the regional task forces represents an innovative approach to tackling the drug problem on a regional basis.