Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of offices or premises being used by each of the local drugs task forces in this country; the number of these offices or premises that are rented; the number actually owned by the local drugs task forces; the expenditure by each local drugs task force on renting premises in the period 2001 to 2008; the amount spent by each local drugs task force on purchasing premises in the period 2001 to 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33085/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, there are 14 Local Drugs Task Forces (LDTFs) in operation — 12 in Dublin, one in Cork City and one in Bray, Co. Wicklow. The core staff of the Task Forces are based in separate premises across the 14 individual Task Force areas. Details of the locations of the LDTFs are attached at Appendix 1.

Five Task Forces currently rent their own premises — Ballymun, Clondlalkin, North Inner City, Blanchardstown and Tallaght and details of the rent paid by each of these Task Forces is attached at Appendix 2.

Of the remaining Task Forces, nine (Ballyfermot, Canal Communities, Cork, Dublin 12, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown, Finglas/Cabra, Bray, Dublin North East and South Inner City) are located within HSE-funded facilities and are not required to pay rent. No LDTF has purchased premises during the period 2001-2008 for their own use. However, the Deputy may be aware that the Premises Initiative, which is funded through my Department, addresses the accommodation needs of community drugs projects in Drugs Task Force areas. This Fund has been very successful since its introduction in 2001 and to date, in the region of 100 projects have been allocated funding, totalling over €22m.