Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the expenditure through or by his Department to community groups involved in drug treatment programmes in 2006; the expected expenditure in 2007; the qualifying criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7949/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he will meet the requirements of community groups involved in tackling drug addiction and which were unsuccessful in their application for grant aid in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7950/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to offer financial support to community based groups involved in combating the drug problem with particular reference to Dublin and adjoining counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7951/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 to 229, inclusive, together.

The majority of current expenditure allocated to community groups through my Department for drugs initiatives is channeled through the Local Drugs Task Forces (including the Emerging Needs Fund), the Regional Drugs Task Forces and the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund.

The combined current expenditure on these in 2006 was €31.80m and I happy to advise the Deputy that the expected expenditure of €39.15m in 2007 represents an increase of 23%.

Of the 14 Local Drugs Task Forces, 12 are based in Dublin and one in Bray.

Expenditure in 2006 in these 13 areas under the Local Drugs Task Force process, the Emerging Needs Fund and the Young People's Facilities & Services Fund came to €24.61m. The comparable provision for 2007 is €27.84m.

Of the 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs), four cover the greater Dublin area and the adjoining counties — East Coast RDTF (Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Wicklow), Northern Area RDTF (North Dublin City and Fingal), South West RDTF (South Dublin, Kildare and West Wicklow) and the North Eastern RDTF (Meath, East Cavan, Louth and Monaghan). Specific allocations are not made on a county basis, rather each RDTF produced a strategic plan for the region involved. In 2006 a total of €1.71m was spent in these four RDTFs on implementing actions identified in those plans. It is expected that this figure will be doubled in 2007.

Local and Regional Drug Task Force projects normally originate at Task Force level and are submitted to the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST). Following consideration by the NDST, recommendations for funding of some projects are made to my Department. Under the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF), projects normally originate from Development Groups in the various Task Force areas and are submitted to the National Assessment Committee of the YPFSF chaired by my Department. In the event of projects not being selected for submission, communities are at liberty to pursue the matter with the relevant Drugs Task Force or Development Group.