Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the campaign evaluation (details supplied) published on 1 November 2006 including the recommendation that the campaign be rolled-out across the State; and if he will arrange for this expansion to be funded through the drugs task force structures. [36841/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I was pleased to launch the report, to which the Deputy refers, last week. The campaign was brought about through a unique alliance of groups and agencies working on the frontline on drugs issues in the area in question and funded by my Department through the Local Drugs Task Force. The main function of the campaign was to gather information about drug dealing and to ensure that the information reached the Gardaí.

The Gardaí have confirmed that much information was generated by the campaign, especially in its earlier stage, and that a significant amount of this information was useful. Following on from the evaluation of the campaign, the steering group has proposed, as one of a number of recommendations, that the campaign be piloted countrywide. The recommendations arising are now to be considered by the National Drugs Strategy Team and on receipt of their views I will consider the matter further.

In considering the matter going forward I will be particularly interested in the views of the Dept of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and An Garda Síochána. It may be the case that initiatives such as this have maximum impact when strongly targeted at specific local areas for defined short periods, rather than being rolled out generally with no specific timeframe.