Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cutbacks in funding in each of the services and projects established in the State and community sectors to combat substance abuse; the way the budget 2009 allocation compares with 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39221/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, it is the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs which is the lead Government Department for our National Drugs Strategy.

Subsequently, the primary budget for projects established to combat substance abuse in the state including the funding for local and regional drug task force originated community based projects is provided from the drugs initiative subhead at that Department.

As the Deputy will appreciate, that budget is a matter which falls under the remit of my colleague, Minister of State John Curran.

In relation to funding provided by my Department for community based projects which tackle substance misuse I can advise the following.

The Department of Justice Equality & Law Reform through the Probation Service provides funding to 53 voluntary bodies to assist with the management of offenders in the community. These funded projects provide a range of services to offenders in local communities, including training and education, offender management programmes, residential accommodation, drug and alcohol abuse treatment programmes. The budget allocation for funded projects for 2008 is €19.393m which represents 36% of the overall probation service budget.

A Value for Money and Policy Review of Projects funded through the Probation Service was completed in 2008 and published on the Department's website on 2 September.

In dealing with offending behaviour, the Probation Service has developed a partnership approach over many years within communities whereby local links and projects are established to meet identified needs for a cohort of offenders, ex-offenders or persons engaged with the Service in those communities.

The review was commissioned to examine the projects in terms of their impact, effectiveness and value for money. The report pointed out that the objectives of many projects have not always been clearly stated and aligned with Probation policy and that the focus has frequently been on inputs rather than outputs.

It recommended that in future it should be made clear what is expected of such projects and the focus should be on monitoring and evaluating the service to be delivered.

Following the VFM and Policy Review a funding agreement was introduced to keep the outputs of the community based organisations in line with the Strategy and workplans of the Probation Service and sets out the conditions and requirements attached to the provision of funding by the Department through the Probation Service to a community based organisation for the provision of services in the years ahead.

The funding agreement establishes that funding is provided in accordance with the Probation Service strategic objective to reduce the level of crime and to increase public safety by working with offenders to change behaviour.

The Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform is empowered to provide financial assistance to the work of a relevant body through the Probation Service.

A final decision on the allocation of funding to community based projects working with the Probation Service for 2009 has not been completed and, accordingly comparisons with 2008 funding levels are not yet available.