Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the full extent of the moneys available to the drugs task force through his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the need for extra resources due to the extent of the problem; when such resources are likely to become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21162/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has responsibility for the co-ordination of the National Drugs Strategy across a range of Government Departments and State Agencies. Just over €245m has been allocated for this work since 1997.

Approximately €125m has been allocated to support in the region of 440 projects contained in the two rounds of plans of the 14 Local Drugs Task Forces (LDTFs) in the areas of treatment and rehabilitation, education, prevention, awareness and curbing local supply. On top of this, about €3.1m has recently been allocated to 54 projects under an Emerging Needs Fund in these areas.

Ten Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) have been established in areas not covered by LDTFs. A sum of €5m has been allocated to these RDTFs to progress implementation of their plans for 2006. Funding will be increased on an incremental basis over the coming years to achieve the full roll out of these action plans, which are estimated to have a full cost in the region of €12.2m per annum.

Under the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, established to assist the development of youth facilities and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop, approximately €102m has been allocated to date.

Approximately €13.66m has been allocated to 60 capital projects under the Premises Initiative, which is designed to meet the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects, the majority of which are in LDTF areas. The Premises Initiative has now been extended to include RDTF areas.

Overall I am pleased with the increasing levels of funding being made available to tackle the problems of drug misuse. An allocation of €43m has been made to the 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 figure. I am satisfied that this will allow us to continue to tackle the drugs problem in a comprehensive way.