Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he has, or intends to offer financial assistance to community groups attempting to combat anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31423/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department operates, either directly or through bodies under its aegis, a range of schemes and projects which support communities in addressing local issues and improve their quality of life generally. The main elements are described below.

Dormant Accounts

Disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund are designed to assist three broad categories of persons:

those affected by economic and social disadvantage;

those affected by educational disadvantage; and

persons with a disability.

The Government has approved the allocation of €60 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2006. In this regard, €24 million is being allocated towards projects tackling economic and social disadvantage; €18 million towards projects tackling educational disadvantage and €18 million towards projects assisting persons with a disability.

CLÁR Programme:

Local Authority Housing Estate Enhancement Scheme:

The purpose of this Scheme is to provide funding, with Local Authorities, for the enhancement of Local Authority Housing Estates through works on landscaping, paving, etc. This Scheme is co-funded with Local Authority on a € for € basis with local contribution

Community Services Programme:

The wide range of community activities funded by this Programme includes the staffing costs of operating community CCTV systems. The scheme also provides funding for the provision of supervision and security of community halls and facilities.

RAPID Programme:

I introduced the RAPID Leverage Schemes in 2004. Through these schemes my Department, in tandem with Departments that have primary responsibility, funds schemes to provide playgrounds, improve traffic measures, improve health facilities, support sporting organisations as well as improve local authority housing estates and flat complexes. Funding from other Departments and Agencies is matched by RAPID Leverage funding. The schemes are aimed at small-scale capital works – works that require relatively small amounts of funding but can produce real and concrete benefits to communities. They also allow the local community to have a direct input into deciding what projects will be undertaken by giving the Area Implementation Teams in each RAPID area the power to select the projects involved.

Also, my Department co-funds projects with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform such as installation of Community Based CCTV, tackling the problem of graffiti and once off Dept. of Justice initiated projects to support communities in RAPID areas.

Community Development Programme:

Established in 1990 in recognition of the role of community development in tackling the causes and effects of poverty and disadvantage, the programme is designed to reduce social exclusion by targeting support at disadvantaged and socially excluded communities in order to improve their capacity to benefit from social and economic development. All projects are managed by local voluntary management committees. 182 projects are currently supported under the programme. These are located in recognised disadvantaged areas nationwide, in both urban and rural areas.

Funding of €24m has been allocated to the programme for 2006. Projects are expected to operate as a resource to the communities in which they are located with their main purpose being to work with the community in identifying and tackling those issues which have resulted in a lack of positive community development. Projects are typically concerned with the needs of women and children, lone parent families, the unemployed, the elderly, young people at risk, Travellers, those with disabilities, new communities and other disadvantaged groups. Projects provide facilities such as meeting rooms, crèches, office facilities, training or education projects designed to meet the needs of disadvantaged groups in their communities. Projects are funded on a contract basis which facilitates the employment of staff and also cover project overheads and administration. Posts covered under the programme include co-ordinator, development worker and administrator. Many projects use the CDP structure and funding to attract funding from other sources including statutory agencies.

National Drugs Strategy:

Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces:

Fourteen Local Drugs Task Forces and Ten Regional Drugs Task Forces have been set up covering all parts of the country. Each Task Force is chaired by an independent chair and has representation from various Departments and agencies, including the community and voluntary sectors. The role of the Drugs Task Forces is to implement the strategic plan which it produced for its region to ensure the development of a co-ordinated and integrated response to illicit drug use. In 2006, the allocation for the implementation of the strategic plans of Drug Task Forces is in the region of €20m.

The Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF):

The Young Peoples Facilities & Services Fund (YPFSF) was established in 1998 to assist in the development of facilities (including sport and recreational facilities) and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem existed or had the potential to develop. By developing youth, sport and other recreational facilities, the YPFSF seeks to attract "at risk" young people away from the potential dangers of misuse, into safe, non-threatening and constructive environments

Eighteen locations are covered — the 14 Local Drugs Task Force areas (12 in Dublin and the others in Bray and Cork) and 4 other urban areas of Limerick, Carlow, Waterford and Galway. A total of €106 million has been allocated to date under both capital and current projects.