Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I certainly would be amenable to meeting the people involved and seeing the project. I want the Senator to be clear that there is no file or proposal on my desk that I have not read, in case the House might have that impression. We have not advised the local drugs task force not to recommend new projects. However, as the Senator has picked up correctly, we have said that the funding the local drugs task force has this year is its funding for this year. Of course 2014 is a new year and everything will be considered afresh, but there will still be a finite amount of resources. I know the history of what has happened here and I must have regard to that. The local drugs task force has a new chairman and a new co-ordinator. I am not saying anything about anyone who went before, but I think that is very helpful. They are very well organised and are very good people. We will do everything we can to assist but it is not a question of a dilatory approach on my part or that of the Department. These things are processed through the local drugs task forces.