Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the parent based support groups against drug or illicit substances uses that his Department funds or has contact with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3992/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Family support has been identified as a priority under the National Drugs Strategy and many drugs projects that are funded by my Department include such support as part of the wider range of services that they offer. Approximately 56 projects in Local and Regional Drugs Task Force areas focus particularly (but not exclusively in some cases) on family support issues, with an estimated annual allocation of over €4.5m. The tables below list those projects by Drugs Task Force area.

Furthermore, an allocation of €150,000 was approved for the Family Support Network in 2007. This allocation has allowed the existing Family Support Network to be established on a more firm and organised footing, thus facilitating the co-ordinated development of local family support groups around the country. The funding will also facilitate improved links and partnerships between the families of problem drug users and others involved in the National Drugs Strategy.

Finally, the Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation, which was published last year, recognised that families of problem drug users have the potential to be a key element to the rehabilitative effort. The recommendations of that Report will be implemented as part of the Programme for Government.