Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to offer assistance to community based groups involved in combating the drugs problem; the extent to which this extends to County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32831/07]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The majority of current expenditure allocated to community based groups through my Department for drugs initiatives is channelled through the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces and the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund. The combined current expenditure under these headings this year will exceed €40m, a substantial increase on the amount spent in 2006. A further €8m is being provided for capital projects. Approximately 350 LDTF projects, including those under the Emerging Needs Fund, are receiving interim funding from my Department this year, with a further 90 approximately operating in RDTF areas.

With regard to Co. Kildare, an allocation of €203,000 has been made to the Community Drug Team for Kildare and West Wicklow following an application from the South West RDTF and this funding will continue next year. Some of the other funding provided to that Drugs Task Force also provides benefit broadly across their region of operation, including Co. Kildare. On top of this, a sum in the region of €170,000 has been made available to Teen Challenge, a rehabilitation project at Shechem House, Richardstown, Co. Kildare, arising from applications through the South Inner City LDTF in Dublin.

Meanwhile, as regards capital funding, €22,354 was approved to Newbridge Family Resource Centre in June 2007 under the Premises Initiative. This is in respect of the purchase and installation of a semi-permanent structure for the Centre to provide a dedicated drop-in facility for "at risk" youth.