John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 595: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of regional drugs task forces that have been set up; the locations in which such task forces have been established; the number that have met to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23618/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Ten Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) were set up under the National Drugs Strategy in 2003 and their areas of operation generally correspond with the Health Board areas as operated at that time. A list of the RDTFs and the areas that they cover are set out in Appendix 1.

As part of their brief, the RDTFs assessed the nature and extent of the illicit drug problems in their areas of operation and developed action plans for a co-ordinated response to those problems. They are now in the process of implementing specific actions identified in those plans.

Each RDTF has an independent Chairperson and comprises representatives of Government Departments and Agencies, elected public representatives and the community and voluntary sectors. The RDTFs continue to meet on a regular basis, generally once a month, to progress the implementation of their plans.

Overall, significant progress has been made by the RDTFs in the implementation of their strategic plans, currently estimated to cost over €14m on an annual basis.