Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the latest expected date for publication of the report of the rehabilitation working group established as the fifth pillar of the National Drugs Strategy; if he has met with members of the group to discuss the main findings of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18124/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Working Group on Rehabilitation was established in September 2005 and includes representatives from a range of Government Departments and Agencies involved in delivering rehabilitation services, as well as representatives from the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST), the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the Community and Voluntary sectors. The terms of reference of the Group include examining the current provision of rehabilitation services in Ireland and recommending actions to develop an integrated rehabilitation service for the future.

The Working Group has held a number of meetings, as well as consultations with interested parties. It is envisaged that their recommendations will be finalised by mid-year and that they will report to the Inter-departmental Group on Drugs and to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion at that stage. Pending completion of their work I have not met with the Working Group.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the breakdown of the amount of funding which has been allocated by his Department regarding the provision of residential places for female only addicts or for female addicts with children; and if he has had discussions with the Department of Health and Children or the Health Service Executive in relation to the provision of such places. [18048/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Health Act, 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Services Executive.

My Department has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. The National Drugs Strategy Team is a cross-departmental Team involving Departments (including the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive), Agencies and representation from the community and voluntary sectors. All aspects of drug policy and implementation are discussed by these parties on an on-going basis. This structure oversees the work of the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces and through this mechanism the following funding has been provided to Ashleigh House, which provides residential rehabilitation facilities for female drug users: €210,000 in 2004 from the Premises Initiative Fund to upgrade the accommodation; €256,457 in the current year through the Local Drugs Task Force structure for the ongoing employment of a full time service manager, two full time workers and a half-time van driver; and €130,000 in the current year from the Emerging Needs Fund to facilitate the expansion of programmes and security services and the provision of full evening/night shift cover as well as childcare on a needs basis.

The funding provided by my Department represents targeted interventions to address particular needs. The Probation and Welfare Service and the Health Services Executive provide the main current funding for the project.