Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if each of the regional drugs task forces nationwide are fully established; the funding drawn down in 2005 by each of these task forces; the work undertaken and implemented by these task forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38741/05]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the sums of money which have been allocated to the ten regional drugs task forces; if these moneys have been drawn down by these task forces; the projects currently being implemented by same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38885/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 327 together.

As part of the national drugs strategy, ten regional drugs task forces, RDTFs, have been established across the country covering all areas where local drugs task forces are not operating. The RDTFs work in a partnership manner, similar to the local drugs task forces and are made up of nominees from State agencies working in the region, the community and voluntary sectors and elected public representatives.

At the outset the RDTFs were involved in mapping out the patterns of drug misuse in their areas, as well as the current levels of services in place to address drugs misuse in their regions. This work informed the development of action plans to address gaps in key services going forward and these were then forwarded to the national drugs strategy team, NDST, for assessment. All regional drugs task forces plans have now been assessed and allocations totalling just under €5 million per annum have been made to allow them to get a range of projects up and running in their areas.

The table outlines the amounts allocated to each task force.

Examples of the type of project for which funding has been sanctioned include community drug teams, prison link workers, the production of educational material, the provision of drop in centres, various smaller grants and administrative funding.

It is expected that the RDTF's will only draw down about €0.4 million in the current year. A similar situation existed when the local drugs task forces were established. The drawdown will increase significantly in 2006.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has assessed the impact of the pilot cocaine treatment projects funded under the national drugs strategy; the outcome of this assessment; if he intends to expand these projects nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38887/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As I outlined in my reply to Question No. 75 of 30 November, earlier this year I launched four pilot cocaine treatment projects to examine different methods of treatment for cocaine use, as well as a training initiative focusing on frontline workers. Funding of almost €400,000 was provided by me to support the pilot treatment projects and the training programme.

The four projects deal with the following cohorts of cocaine users: intravenous cocaine users; poly-drug users using cocaine; problematic intranasal cocaine users; and problematic female cocaine users.

The pilot treatment projects are now all operational. In regard to the training initiative, the first two levels have been completed by approximately 160 frontline personnel from various backgrounds and level 3, final part, has commenced recently.

Goodbody Economic Consultants Limited, has been engaged to conduct an evaluation of the pilot projects and this work has commenced. It is expected that a preliminary report will be available early in 2006. The main thrust of the evaluation will be to analyse, in a systematic manner, what is being achieved by the projects and to report the findings of the projects and the positive and negative lessons to be learned as a result. The evaluation will focus particularly on the structures, effectiveness, efficiency and value for money of the projects.

Following receipt of the final evaluation I will be a position to decide on the next steps in this regard.