Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he is prepared to assist groups involved in the fight against drugs in the eastern region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18395/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications for funding he has received from local or community groups in the eastern region involved in the fight against drugs. [18396/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which his attention has been drawn to the growth of drug abuse on a county basis; his intentions for dealing with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18398/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his expected expenditure in 2006 for utilisation in the prevention of drug abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18399/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 346, 347, 349 and 350 together.

My Department has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, which aims to tackle drugs misuse in a comprehensive way. The National Drugs Strategy Team plays a vital role in overseeing the work of the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces. Twelve of the 14 Local Drugs Task Forces (LDTFs) are located in Dublin, with the others in Bray and Cork. There are 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) in the areas not covered by Local Drugs Task Forces. Thus all areas are now serviced by a Drugs Task Force.

Local Drugs Task Forces are well established and are now implementing the second round of Action Plans at an annual cost of €16m. Since 1997, nearly €125m has been allocated to support this work across the 14 LDTF areas. Over 400 community-based projects have been established, employing more than 300 staff, and 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.

Progress is now being made by the RDTFs, all of which have prepared Action Plans for their Regions. A sum of €5m has been allocated to the 10 RDTFs towards the implementation of those plans for 2006 and €322,000 of this has been drawn down to date. Funding will be increased on an incremental basis over the coming years to achieve the full roll out of the Action Plans, which are estimated to have a full cost in the region of €12.2m per annum. It is expected that the rate of progress being made by RDTFs will accelerate in the latter part of the year, especially in view of the employment of full-time co-ordinators.

Additionally there are a number of funds which I have made available to community based drug projects. The Emerging Needs Fund was devised to provide a flexible and timely response to evolving needs in regard to drug misuse in Local Drugs Task Force areas. My recent announcement concerning the approval of €2.27m for 39 projects brings the total approved to date from this Fund to just over €3.1m.

The Young People's Facilities and Services Fund was established in 1998 to assist the development of youth facilities (including sport and recreational facilities) and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists, or has the potential to develop. My recent announcement of almost €2m for the provision of four new youth facilities in Carlow and Waterford brings the total commitment from the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund to almost €101m since its establishment.

The Premises Initiative, established to meet the accommodation needs of community-based drugs projects in LDTF areas, has now been extended to meet the accommodation needs of community-based drugs projects in RDTF areas.

Overall an allocation of €43m has been made to my Department's Vote for the Drugs Initiative/Young People's Facilities and Services Fund in 2006. This represents an increase of 37% on the original 2005 allocation and a massive 61% increase on the 2004 allocation. I am satisfied that the implementation of the LDTF and RDTF Action Plans, along with the range of additional funding initiatives represents a comprehensive response to the problem of drugs misuse in the eastern region and nationwide.