Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on Estimate 2007 for his Department; if he will account for the failure to increase funding for the drugs initiative and the young peoples services and facilities fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42836/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding to be allocated to the Regional Drug Task Forces in 2007; the way this money will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42876/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 109 together.

The 2007 Estimates provision of just over €43m represents a continuation of the increased level of funding that I have secured to tackle the problem of drugs misuse in recent years. The similar allocation for the Drugs Initiative/Young People's Facilities and Services Fund in 2006 represented an increase of 37% on the original 2005 allocation and a massive 61% increase on the 2004 figure. The 2007 allocation will allow us to consolidate and build on previous investment and to continue our efforts to tackle the drug problem.

Tackling the problem of drugs misuse is a key priority for Government and will continue to be so. When mainstreamed projects are included, the Government is spending €70m per year on projects that originated at community level.

An initial total allocation of €5m was allocated to the ten Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) in 2006 to commence the implementation of their action plans and significant progress has been made. It is envisaged that funding will be increased on an incremental basis to achieve the full rollout of the RDTF plans.

A total of 96 projects have been started across the ten regions this year. The projects involved range from prevention initiatives and work with youth to treatment services and outreach work, in line with the actions identified in the plans.

Furthermore, capital funding is now available to Regional Drugs Task Forces through the Premises Initiative Fund, which was established to address the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects.