Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position in relation to a project (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if he will increase the funding as a matter of urgency in order that they can continue to provide this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2627/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Funding for Local and Regional Drugs Task Force areas in 2009 will be approximately €34.6m. Of this amount, over €23m is being allocated to the Local Drugs Task Forces while over €11m is being earmarked for the Regional Task Forces. Projects have already been approved funding for the first six months of 2009 and the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) will be reviewing this expenditure before allocating the remaining six months funding.

All Drugs Task Forces have been asked to identify savings across their area of responsibility. While I appreciate that there may be some difficult choices to be made, it will be a matter for the Drugs Task Forces — including the East Coast RDTF which allocates funding to the projects referred to by the Deputy — to identify measures to enable them to work within their allocated budgets. With regard to these projects, I understand that the Task Force has agreed funding allocations for 2009 with the company that manages the projects. My Department will continue to liaise with the NDST to ensure the continued operation of vital services in disadvantaged areas most affected by drug misuse.