Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding provided by his Department to groups, bodies or agencies involved in combating drugs in each of the past five years to date; the extent to which such funding is expected to increase in 2009 in view of the need in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40893/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he has provided funding or other support to community based groups in County Kildare involved in campaigning against drugs; the extent to which he expects to increase, extend or expand the support in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41219/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the necessity to increase funding and support for urban and rural community groups involved in the campaign against drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41221/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he will increase his support for community groups involved in campaigns against drugs including rehabilitation and prevention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41222/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 392, 394 and 395 together.

As the Deputy is 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. A breakdown of funding across the different Task Force areas since 2003 is set out below. The outturn for both in 2008 is expected to be of the order of €22m and €10m respectively.

Over 440 LDTF projects, including those under the Emerging Needs Fund, are receiving funding from my Department. In the region of 170 of these projects focus on treatment/ rehabilitation and roughly a further 190 have a focus on prevention-type activities.

Across the ten RDTF areas, work is progressing on the implementation of their Action Plans and by the end of 2008 it is expected that in the region of 200 projects will be up and running. Of these, around 90 treatment and rehabilitation projects are being funded and a similar number dealing with prevention.

Overall, in 2008, the budget for community-based initiatives in the Local and Regional Drugs Task Force areas, including funding for new cocaine and rehabilitation measures introduced during the year, amounts to nearly €34.8m. While the funding available for 2009 has not yet been finalised, I expect the comparable figure for next year to be in the region of €34.4m. In this context, the Deputy should note that of the foregoing, funding for projects in Drug Task Forces action plans in 2009 will be maintained at 2008 levels i.e. €32m.

In relation to Co. Kildare which is part of the South West Regional Drugs Task Force area, the following allocations have been made:

Funding of €150,000 has been allocated to the Abbey Project to provide a number of services such as drop-in, family support, referral, counselling, holistic therapies and advice and information on housing to drug users and their families from Celbridge and the surrounding areas;

Fuding of €340,112 was approved for the Community Drug Team for Kildare and West Wicklow in 2008. 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; and

An amount of €22,354 was approved to Newbridge Family Resource Centre in 2007 under the Premises Initiative 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.

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.