Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he proposes to assist by way of direct funding, the efforts of various community groups involved in the fight against drugs with particular reference to outreach, treatment of diversionary programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39844/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action being taken to address the ever growing problem of drug abuse; if the regional drug task force had adequate resources at its disposal to meet the growing requirements of community based groups involved in combating drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39847/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together.

The Government is tackling the misuse of drugs in a concerted, planned and integrated way on several fronts under the National Drugs Strategy. The overall Strategy is being implemented across a range of Government Departments and agencies in conjunction with the community and voluntary sectors. Co-ordinated by my Department through the mechanisms of the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces and the Young People's Facilities and Services fund, the Strategy is underpinned by a process of co-operation and partnership between all sectors.

Since 1997, across the 14 Local Drugs Task Force areas, over 450 community-based projects have been established with funding in the region of €125m provided. These projects, some of which have been assigned to other Departments and Agencies in the interim, employ more than 300 people. In the current year, 361 projects, including those under the Emerging Needs Fund, are receiving interim funding totalling €20.2 million from my Department. Of these, 174 projects deal with the issues of treatment and rehabilitation.

I allocated €5 million in 2006 to the ten Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) to facilitate the commencement of the implementation of their action plans. The National Drugs Strategy Team has been working closely with the RDTFs to get their programmes up and running as speedily as possible. 68 projects have been initiated in 2006 and it is envisaged that around 80 projects will be in progress by the end of the year. 59 projects proposed by the RDTFs deal with treatment and rehabilitation and are currently at various stages of development. Funding will be increased on an incremental basis to achieve full roll-out of the RDTF plans estimated to have an annual cost of around €14 million.

Through the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, which was established in 1998, funding is made available towards the development of youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities and services. These are specifically aimed at attracting "at risk" young people in disadvantaged areas into activities that will divert them from the dangers of drugs misuse. In all, approximately 460 facility and services projects are being supported under the Fund, which has a total allocation to date of approximately €107 million.

Overall, I am satisfied with the level of progress being made. Tackling the drug problem is a key priority for Government and will continue to be so.