Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the proposal for a south-east Fingal drugs and alcohol project, sent to the Department by the Howth Sutton Community Council in January of this year. Basically, the request is that the Department replace a project that was serving this area up until the middle of last year. There was a Howth-based project that was providing a service for Howth, Sutton, Baldoyle, Bayside and the surrounding areas but there were difficulties with that project. Since it has closed, there is an enormous gap in services in the area, particularly in terms of prevention. The proposal was put forward by the community council following a considerable amount of research done through the local schools and youth services as well as with parents and residents of the area, on the needs of the community in terms of drug and alcohol abuse prevention and diversion projects. That research, which was submitted to the Department, showed clearly a gap in such services in that area.

The proposal was submitted in January. Since then, the community council has been finding it very difficult to get a straight answer regarding what is happening with the proposal. I wrote to the Department on behalf of the council and received a reply to the effect that the issue is a matter for the drugs task force. However, the drugs task force has said that it has been given a very clear message from the Department that it is being funded on an existing services only basis for this year and that it cannot approve replacement projects. It seems that this very worthwhile initiative, the need for which has been well established through research and analysis, may not be funded by the Government. The community council has not been able to get a straight answer on this question. Money was available in the past through a previous project. Funding was allocated to this area but now it is being left without a service. I appreciate that money is tight within the Department and that cuts have been necessary. However, of all of the services that need to be protected, drug projects are one of the most important. It takes so long to get the right services up an running in areas that have struggled for many years with drug misuse problems. In that context, it is a shame that the budget in general is taking a hit and while it is no reflection on the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, it does reflect the broader priorities of Government. All Ministers should ensure that this service area is supported. The amount of money involved is relatively small in the greater scheme of things.

I tabled this matter on the Adjournment in order to bring it to the attention of the Minister of State, who is already aware of the proposal. I hope he can give me positive news today. The community council, which carried out the research and submitted the proposal, is a very professional organisation and is representative of all of the community bodies in the broader community. If any organisation is capable of getting a project like this off the ground and running it for a relatively small sum of money, it is the Howth Sutton Community Council. I hope the Minister of State has had a chance to read the proposal and that he can give me a positive answer, rather than just saying that it is an issue for the drugs task force.