Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [39842/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy will be aware, very significant levels of funding are being provided to community based drugs projects under the Government's National Drugs Strategy through the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces initiative as well as the Young People's Facilities and Services fund under the aegis of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

My own Department's remit in this field, insofar as funding is concerned, is primarily focused on support for offenders and ex-offenders, as well as in the area of Youth Diversion.

In 2006 the budget allocation for assistance to voluntary bodies from the Probation Service amounted to €20.827 million. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that for the coming year this has been increased to €24.096 million. Of the €20.827 million allocated in 2006, €2.412 million was provided for drug treatment programmes including counselling for the treatment of drug, alcohol and other addictions.

In addition to the above, I can inform the Deputy that there are a further five Probation led projects, approved by Local Drugs Task Forces, which are currently operating on a pilot basis. While the projects are operating on a pilot basis the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs provides the funding, channelled through my Department. Currently the grants to these five projects amount to almost €2.52 million. Subject to favourable evaluation, these projects will in future be funded by my Department through the Probation Service.

The Irish Prison Service and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs have through the Dormant Accounts Fund also made available funding for a number of pilot projects in this area. These pilots will take place over the coming years and are related to throughcare focused addiction counselling work for prisoners. The Irish Prison Service also supports the provision of addiction counselling by community groups in a number of prisons.

I would also like to draw the Deputy's attention to the work of the Garda Youth Diversion Projects which are a community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiative which seek to divert young persons from becoming involved — or further involved — in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve long-term employability prospects. By doing so, the projects also contribute to improving the quality of life within communities and enhancing Garda/community relations. The projects are funded by my Department and administered by the Community Relations Section of An Garda Síochána.

I secured increases in funding for the Garda Youth Diversion Projects bringing the total funding to €6.6 million in 2006 and to €9.8 million for 2007. This funding supports Garda Youth Diversion Projects and mainstreamed Local Drugs Task Force Projects, of which there are seven.

The increase in funding has enabled me to begin an expansion of the programme from 64 Garda Youth Diversion Projects at the beginning of this year to 84 projects nationwide before the end of 2006. It is my intention that there will be at 100 projects nationwide before the end of 2007.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [39846/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government's National Strategy 2001-2008 addresses the problem of drug misuse under pillar headings of education and prevention, supply reduction, treatment and rehabilitation and research and is firmly founded on the principle that drug misuse needs to be addressed in an integrated manner across these headings through a co-operative approach involving the statutory, community and voluntary treatment sectors.

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, under the stewardship of my colleague and Minister of State Mr. Noel Ahern, is the lead Government Department in co-ordinating the implementation of the Strategy. The allocation of funding to the regional drugs task forces is, therefore, a matter which comes under the remit of that Department.

My Department's remit in this area, while not exclusively, is primarily in the area of drug supply reduction and drug law enforcement, remains a key feature of the Government's drug policy framework.

An Garda Síochána invokes a number of broad strategic responses in addressing the issue. These include the following:

Identifying, targeting and dismantling national and international drug trafficking networks which supply and distribute illegal drugs within this state.

Conducting intelligence driven operations focusing on all aspects of the illicit drugs trade including commodity, logistics, distribution and financing.

Working with other national and international law enforcement agencies on joint actions designed to reduce the availability of drugs and the proceeds derived from the drugs trade.

Working in partnership with statutory, community and voluntary groups to reduce both the supply and demand for drugs within society.

Tackling organised crime and drug trafficking is primarily achieved through the use of specialist units and targeted intelligence led operations.

The Organised Crime Unit, established in November 2005, in conjunction with the Garda National Drugs Unit and local Gardaí, continue to implement initiatives such as Operations Anvil and Oak which target criminals involved in the trafficking of drugs.

These operations, which are ongoing, continue to dismantle drug trafficking networks and have led to the arrest in recent times of major criminals both based here and abroad who are involved in the drugs trade and very significant drug seizures continue to be made by An Garda Síochána as a result of this work.

The record level of resources, both in financial and personnel terms, being made available to An Garda Síochána this year is proof of the Government's commitment and determination to ensure that the Garda authorities will continue to implement targeted, intelligence and high intensity operations against organised crime with a special focus on drugs crime.

Furthermore we are ensuring that our law enforcement agencies have a strong legislative platform from which to operate in their work tackling those involved in such criminal activity.

While our legislative package for tackling drug trafficking is already viewed as being one of the most stringent in Europe, the Criminal Justice Act 2006 provides for further measures which will enhance the powers of the Gardaí in the investigation and prosecution of drug offences.

Finally, I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains resolutely committed to addressing this issue as an ongoing matter of priority through our National Drugs Strategy.