Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the breakdown of all funding provided to local drug task forces; the research that has been carried out in relation to the effectiveness of such funding; the area that commands the greatest need for funding; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5591/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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A total of €21m in current funding has been allocated to date in 2008 to the 14 Local Drugs Task Forces (LDTFs). A broad range of factors influence the level of funding at Drug Task Force level, including the needs identified, the quality of projects proposed, population and the size of the area involved. A breakdown of the current funding allocated by LDTF is detailed in the table below. Some capital funding is also available for LDTF projects under the Premises Initiative.

An Expenditure Review of the LDTFs completed in late 2006 found that:

the LDTF programme has been effective and highly relevant to the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy;

extensive measures have been implemented to address the drug problem at a local level; and

there are indications of high cost benefit ratios of projects such as those delivered through the LDTF programme.

The Review also identified some areas for improvement and substantial progress has been made in that regard. More recently an evaluation of nearly 300 interim funded Local Drugs Task Force projects has been carried out and the report on this is expected to be finalised shortly.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the interdepartmental group on the national drugs strategy last met; if policy decisions or recommendations regarding the implementation of the national drugs strategy were considered at the meeting; the recommendations the group made to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5513/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Inter-Departmental Group on Drugs (IDG) last met on Thursday, 13 December 2007. Among the issues discussed were:

development of a new National Drug Strategy 2009-16;

implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation;

an update on progress in implementing the recommendations of the joint National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and National Drug Strategy Team (NDST) report on cocaine, including a presentation on the new National Drugs Awareness campaign;

updates from the HSE and Dept Health & Children on a number of drug-related topics;

report on accommodation issues (linked to the recommendations of the Rehabilitation Report) from Dept Environment, Heritage & Local Government;

report from Dept Social & Family Affairs on ancillary benefits in the context of problem drug users;

report from Dept Education & Science on prevention and awareness measures;

reports from the Gardaí and the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners on drug seizures; and

updates on Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund and from the NACD and the NDST.

No recommendations to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, Children and Integration arose from this meeting.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the full extent of funding available through his Department for disbursement to the various community based bodies involved in drug treatment programmes in 2008; the number of applications received to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5540/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of drug treatment programmes funded by his Department; the extent to which he will increase this in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5811/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he proposes to increase the number of drug treatment programmes funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5812/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the need to extend and increase funding to those providing drug treatment programmes in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5813/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals to increase funding to community groups involved in combating drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5816/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 146 to 148, inclusive, and 150 together.

Tackling the problem of drugs misuse is a key priority of the Government. This commitment is evidenced by the increasing levels of funding provided to my Department to tackle the drugs issue. The allocation of over €63m this year represents an increase of 28% on the 2007 allocation. This allocation will facilitate progress towards the fulfilment of commitments in the Programme for Government in regard to initiatives to facilitate rehabilitation and to tackle the problem of cocaine, the development of Drug Task Force projects and the increased targeting of "at risk" young people through the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund.

The majority of expenditure allocated to community groups through my Department for drugs initiatives is channelled through the Local Drugs Task Forces (LDTFs), the Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) and the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF). Local and Regional Drug Task Force projects normally originate at community level and are submitted through Drug Task Forces to the National Drugs Strategy Team who make recommendations to me on funding. Again, under the YPFSF, projects are normally brought to the Development Groups for the 18 urban areas involved. The Development Groups submit proposals as they see fit to the National Assessment Committee of the YPFSF, chaired by my Department, and recommendations to me arise from there.

Over 440 Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF) projects, including those under the Emerging Needs Fund, are receiving funding from my Department. The 2008 allocation for such projects shows an increase of 9.5% over the amount spent in 2007. In the region of 200 of these projects focus on treatment and rehabilitation. Across the ten Regional Drug Task Force (RDTF) areas, work is progressing on the implementation of their Action Plans with the level of expenditure expected to increase by 40% this year. In 2007 a total of 67 treatment and rehabilitation projects were approved for funding and this is expected to rise to around 90 in 2008. In addition, all Drug Task Forces can access capital funding under a Premises Initiative. Already this year, I have announced capital funding of €1.5m to eleven projects, a number of which focus on treatment and rehabilitation.

With regard to Co. Kildare, funding was made available to the Community Drug Team for Kildare and West Wicklow last year and €0.34m will be allocated for this in 2008. Some of the other funding provided to the South West Area RDTF will also provide benefit 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, capital funding of €22,354 was approved to Newbridge Family Resource Centre in June 2007 under the Premises Initiative for the purchase and installation of a semi-permanent structure to provide a dedicated drop-in facility for "at risk" youth. I can assure the Deputy that adequate resources will continue to be made available to support drug treatment programmes.