Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will extend the Regional Drugs Network Service to Limerick and surrounding areas, Galway and surrounding areas, the midlands and the north west to include Donegal and Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32484/07]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress that has been made to introduce regional taskforces under the National Drugs Strategy to tackle the growing drug problem in regions outside of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32482/07]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 84 together.

Under the National Drugs Strategy, ten Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) were set up in 2003 to cover all parts of the country not covered by a Local Drugs Task Force, thus achieving full coverage of the country.

Following extensive consultation processes, each RDTF prepared a Strategic Plan to respond to illicit drug use in their areas and the implementation of these Plans is now progressing, with expected expenditure of €7.5m in 2007. Expenditure will increase further in 2008 as the RDTFs progress towards the full implementation of their Plans, which will have a full cost of approximately €14m per annum.

Furthermore, it is now open to RDTFs to seek capital funding under the Premises Initiative and nearly €1m has been allocated for this so far in 2007. It is expected that allocations under this heading will increase next year.

The table below sets out the areas covered by each of the ten RDTFs.

Question No. 71 answered with QuestionNo. 54.

Question No. 72 answered with QuestionNo. 62.