Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 479: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the budgetary allocation for each of the public bodies, executive agencies, advisory bodies and taskforces operating under his Department. [27786/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I would refer the Deputy to the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for my Department, which lists the Budgetary allocations for each of the public bodies and executive agencies operating under my Department. The REV can be located in the Dáil Library and at www.finance.gov.ie

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of positions in State bodies under the aegis of his Department which are affected by the increase in non-executive chairpersons' fees of State bodies recently sanctioned by the Government. [27800/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of positions in State bodies under the aegis of my Department which are affected by the increase in non-executive chairpersons' fees of State bodies recently sanctioned by the Government are as follows (1 position in each body):

Western Development Commission (WDC)

National Drug Strategy (NACD)

Dormant Accounts Board

An Coimisiún Logainmneacha,

Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge,

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Arramara Teoranta.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 481: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of taskforces which have been created by his Department and their function, size, membership, reporting mechanism and period of existence since 1997. [27824/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The following information relates to taskforces which have been created by my Department since its inception in June 2002:

Year: 2002

No. of Taskforces Created:

1 Regional Drugs Task Force.

Function:

There are 14 Local Drugs Task Forces and 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces, ensuring that all areas of the country are serviced by a Drugs Task Force.

The 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces were established in the period between Dec 2002 and Dec 2003. Their functions are as follows:

∙To ensure the development of a co-ordinated and integrated response to illicit drug use in the region;

∙To create and maintain an up-to-date database on the nature and extent of illicit drug use in the region and to provide information on drug-related services and resources in the region;

∙To identify and address gaps in service provision, having regard to evidence available on the extent and specific location of illicit drug use in the region;

∙To prepare a development plan to respond to regional drug issues for assessment by the National Drug Strategy Team (NDST) and approval by the joint NDST-IDG;

∙To develop regionally relevant policy proposals in consultation with the NDST; and

∙To provide information and regular reports to the NDST in the format and frequency requested by the NDST.

Size:

Average of 27 members per Task Force.

Membership:

Each Task Force is chaired by an Independent Chairperson. Membership includes representatives of relevant agencies such as the HSE, the Departments of Health and Children; Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Probation and Welfare Service; Education and Science; the Gardaí; Local Authority; FAS; Youth Service; Area Based Partnerships; Public Representatives; Public Representatives; Customs and Excise Division of the Revenue Commissioners; VEC; Community Sector; Voluntary Sector; and an NDST Liaison.

Reporting Mechanism:

RDTFs report through the RDTF structure of the NDST, in addition to which each member of the NDST acts as an NDST Liaison to a Task Force; The NDST report to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and to the Interdepartmental Group on Drugs, which is chaired by Minister of State, Noel Ahern; The IDG reports to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion which is chaired by the Taoiseach.

Year: 2003

No. of Taskforces Created:

9 Regional Drugs Task Forces.

Function, Size, Membership and Reporting Mechanism:

As per 2002 data above.

Years 2004, 2005 and 2006:

No taskforces were created by my Department in the years 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006.