Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether the dial to stop drug dealing is an effective means of apprehending drug dealers; the number of calls to the freefone number that have been referred to the gardaí to date; the number of these calls that have resulted in arrests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3161/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a decision has been made to halt funding to the dial to stop drug dealing initiative in June 2009, the roll-out of which was announced in September 2008; the funding that will be made available to the initiative across 2009; the source of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3010/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 303 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, the Dial-to-Stop Drug Dealing Campaign was officially launched on 30 September 2008. I would see the campaign as part of a range of initiatives that are used to apprehend those engaged in drug dealing.

The Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces are used to run the campaign which is designed to encourage people to provide any information they may have on drug dealing — anonymously, if required — through a confidential telephone line. This information will then be forwarded to An Garda Síochána. Each local campaign has been tailored to the requirements of the individual area — as identified by the Drugs Task Force — working closely with local communities. The input and co-operation of local communities is essential to maximise the effect of the campaign in their areas.

The first phase of the campaign ran across five Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces areas with funding being provided by my Department (€100,000) and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (€50,000). The confidential number used in the campaign is open for all to use, however, regardless of which area they come from. This was highlighted during the national launch.

Overall, I believe that the campaign to date has proved to be successful. According to the latest information on the campaign, there have been approximately 1,100 calls to the phone-line that have generated 306 information reports to the Gardaí. An Garda Síochána has confirmed that, to date, the information gathered has proved useful to their enquiries and has yielded a number of seizures and arrests. In all areas where the campaign is being rolled out, the local Gardaí are following strong lines of enquiry resulting from the information arising from the free phone number.

The next phases of the campaign will be funded from the Dormant Accounts Fund and an indicative allocation of €300,000 has been approved for the campaign in 2009. Following approval of the specific proposals, it is planned to run the campaign in a number of Local and Regional Drugs Task Force areas this year.

With regard to any future funding, as the Dormant Accounts funding is once-off in nature, the €300,000 referred to above is the total that will be allocated. As the allocation for funding for drugs initiatives in my Department in 2009 is fully committed, I regret that there is no scope, at present, for further campaigns.