Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of local community based groups involved in the campaign in the fight against drugs or drug rehabilitation which he or his Department expect to fund in 2008 in both urban and rural areas, in the greater Dublin area and in the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19193/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of drug rehabilitation programmes expected to be funded by his Department in County Kildare in 2008; the extent to which this compared with previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of drug rehabilitation schemes expected to be funded by his Department throughout the country in 2008; the way this compares with previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19195/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 to 145, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the majority of expenditure allocated to community groups through my Department for drugs initiatives is channelled through the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs). The areas covered by the Drugs Task Forces are detailed below. Projects are submitted through Drug Task Forces to the National Drugs Strategy Team who make recommendations to me on funding.

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 170 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 over 40% this year. Expenditure in 2007 on the ten RDTF plans came to over €7m and the increased provision in 2008 will allow for the full year cost of the approx. 150 community projects already in progress and the start of roughly another 40 projects 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, as part of a €2m funding package announced earlier this year to support rehabilitation and to address cocaine use, an amount of €750,000 was earmarked for rehabilitation-focused projects. The funding will be allocated to suitable projects over the coming months.

The Deputy should also note that capital funding is available under the Premises Initiative which addresses the accommodation needs of community drugs projects in Task Force areas. Already this year, funding of nearly €4m was approved for 15 capital projects, a number of which focus on rehabilitation.

With regard to Co. Kildare, it is part of the South West Regional Drugs Task Force. A sum of €300,520 has been allocated to the Task Force for a Rehabilitation Mentor Service, which is aiming to get up and running this summer. The aim of this project is to assist recovering drug misusers to access services most appropriate to them over time. It also aims to develop and provide a one-to-one rehabilitation "mentor" service that will identify and facilitate a personal progression route for each individual. This will serve both Kildare and West Wicklow.

In 2007, the Community Drug Team for Kildare and West Wicklow was allocated funding and this funding will continue in 2008 in the amount of €340,112. The service will expand and complement existing treatment services along with family support and early responses to young people at the early stage of drug misuse.

Some of the other funding provided to that Drugs Task Force also provides benefit broadly across their region of operation, including Co. Kildare. In addition, 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.

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.

Local Drugs Task Force areas

Ballyfermot

Ballymun

Blanchardstown

Bray

Canal Communities

Clondalkin

Cork City

Dublin North East

Dublin 12

Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown

Finglas / Cabra

North Inner City

South Inner City

Tallaght

Regional Drugs Task Forces

East Coast Area RDTF — Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown and East Wicklow.

Northern Area RDTF — North Dublin City and Fingal.

South-Western Area RDTF — South Dublin City, South Dublin, Kildare and West Wicklow

Midland RDTF — Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois.

Mid-West RDTF — Clare, North Tipperary and Limerick.

North-Eastern RDTF — Monaghan, East Cavan, Meath and Louth.

North-Western RDTF — West Cavan, Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim.

Southern RDTF — Cork County and Kerry

South-Eastern RDTF — Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary South and Waterford.

Western RDTF — Mayo, Roscommon and Galway.