Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the expected timeframe for the launch of the dial to stop drug dealing non-Garda confidential freefone line by local authority area. [43489/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The "Dial to Stop Drug Dealing" initiative is being delivered under the aegis of the National Drugs Strategy Team which reports to my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, its rollout is, therefore, a matter which falls under the remit of that Department.

In relation to the launch and implementation of the campaign I am informed that during 2006, the Blanchardstown local drugs task force ran a pilot "Dial to Stop Drug Dealing" campaign that was deemed to be successful by the local community, the drugs task force and the Garda Síochána. Based on the model of that initiative, funding was secured to run a national "Dial to Stop Drug Dealing" campaign from October 2008. This funding, totalling €450,000, consists of €300,000 which is being made available through the Dormant Assets Fund, €100,000 which is being provided directly by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and €50,000 that my Department is contributing towards the campaign costs. The National Drugs Strategy Team with the help of a marketing and communications company, PCC Limited, is in the process of rolling out a national initiative, which involves a series of local and regional campaigns. These campaigns will be run by a number of local and regional drugs task forces which are interested in and are in a position to participate in the project. Each campaign is designed to encourage people to provide, anonymously if preferred, through a confidential national free phone telephone line, 1800 220 220, any information they may have on drug dealing activity in their area. Information provided is, as appropriate, being forwarded to designated contacts in the Garda National Drugs Unit of the force, which directs it appropriately locally and regionally within the Garda system.

The campaign was launched nationally on 30 September 2008 by the Minister of State, Deputy Curran. Five drug task forces — the Tallaght, Blanchardstown, Dublin north inner city and Dublin north-east local drugs task forces and the south-west regional drugs task force — are participating in phase 1 of the campaign, which is running from early October to early December. Phase 2 of the campaign, which will be conducted between January and February 2009, will feature the participation of the southern, south-eastern, north Dublin and mid-western regional drugs task forces and the Cork city local drugs task force. The final phase of this initiative will be run between April and May 2009 with the following task forces participating — the east coast and midlands regional drugs task forces and the Bray, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Finglas-Cabra local drugs task forces. I understand that an overall evaluation of the project is expected to be available next summer. I fully endorse this initiative and urge all members of the public to support the campaign.