Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he supports the ring fencing of moneys seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau for drug prevention and rehabilitation projects; if not the reason he does not support this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31209/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The critical issue is the level of overall funding made available for the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy and in that regard I am fully satisfied with the amount of €43m made available this year under the Vote of my own Department. The earmarking of particular revenues for specific expenditure purposes is generally avoided as it is much more cumbersome to operate than utilising a central fund. In any case, the allocation of drugs-related CAB money to drugs misuse programmes would imply uncertain and variable amounts coming available and the process of releasing such money takes a number of years. Furthermore, the allocation of CAB receipts would not necessarily imply an increase in overall funding.

The fact is that the Government's overall spend on drugs initiatives amounts to much more than the amount taken in by CAB over the years. For example, in 2005 in the region of €195m was allocated by the Government for drugs related programmes across the Votes of a number of Departments. This figure far outstrips any CAB receipts that would have been available in the same period. The allocation of €43m to my Department's Vote for the Drugs Initiative/Young People's Facilities and Services Fund in 2006 represents an increase of 37% on the original 2005 allocation and a massive 61% increase on the 2004 allocation. Overall, I am satisfied that current Government expenditure on drugs is sufficient to meet the needs of those involved in tackling the effects of the misuse of drugs.