Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of calls received by the Dial to Stop Drugs campaign; if there is a geographical spread attached to the calls; if the calls to date have proved to be a successful means of obtaining information; the proposals or actions taken to date to address the concerns outlined in the information received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8964/09]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 321 of 17 February 2009, the efforts he is making to ensure that further funding to the €300,000 dormant accounts funding received for 2009 be made available from his Department or other sources for the continuation of the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing campaign after 2009 in view of the success of the programme which has only received €150,000 funding to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8849/09]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 321 of 17 February 2009 if a decision has been finalised on the specific local and regional drugs task force proposals for the next phases of the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing campaign for 2009; when these phases are due to begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8848/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 81 and 82 together.

As the Deputies may be aware, I launched the Dial-to-Stop Drug Dealing Campaign in September 2008. The first phase was run 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, regardless of which area they come from and 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, I understand that there have been well over 1,400 calls to the phone-line that have generated in excess of 360 information reports to the Gardaí.

The information reports have been referred to a wide geographical spread of Garda stations for follow up. The calls are spread right across the country, including areas that have not directly run a campaign. In all the areas where the campaign is being rolled out, I understand that the local Gardaí are following strong lines of enquiry resulting from the information arising from the free phone number.

The Gardaí have also confirmed that there has been a number of seizures and arrests on foot of information received including:

the seizure of substantial quantity of cannabis in one area;

the seizure of substantial quantity of cannabis and a firearm in another area; and

the seizure of substantial quantity of heroin in one area.

The next phases of the campaign will be funded with €300,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund and will facilitate a further 10 campaigns. Phase 2 of the campaign will run in the following areas:

Southern RDTF;

Cork LDTF;

South East RDTF;

Mid-West RDTF;

North Dublin City and County RDTF.

The final phase will cover the East Coast and Midlands RDTFs and Bray, Dun Laoghaire and Finglas/Cabra LDTFs.

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.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the actions taken to date to highlight the dangers of the use of cocaine as a result of the national advisory committee on drugs report indicating the use of the illicit substance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8951/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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In February 2008, my predecessor, Minister of State, Pat Carey TD, launched the National Awareness Campaign on Drugs, "The Party's Over". This campaign was developed by the HSE, in consultation with many of the key Departments and Agencies involved in tackling problem drug use, including my own Department.

The initial aim of the campaign was to communicate the dangers of cocaine use, with a particular focus on so called "recreational cocaine users" in the 15-34 age group. The choice of cocaine, and the targeting of younger people, arises directly from the evidence of the 2006/07 Drugs Prevalence Survey, which itself confirmed the findings of the joint NACD/NDST report mentioned by the Deputy.

The campaign utilised appropriate media, such as social network websites, billboard and bus advertising as well as radio advertising to target this age group and this approach will be continued.

The Health Promotion Unit of the HSE also published two leaflets "Know The Facts About Drugs" and "Cocaine The Facts" to accompany the campaign. In addition, a drugs information website www.drugs.ie was developed and launched in conjunction with the campaign.

To dovetail with the national campaign, funding of €500,000 was allocated from my Department for cocaine awareness campaigns at a local and regional level to be delivered through the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces. The Task Forces, through their interaction with communities and groups on the ground, are considered best placed to deliver meaningful, appropriate and focussed campaigns.

A workshop was also held with the Drugs Task Forces to share learning and information and to assist them in planning their individual campaigns.

In addition, many of the Drugs Task Forces already have in place a number of valuable initiatives, including events such as "Awareness Weeks". Such initiatives have proven to be effective as many of them focus on the issues particular to their own localities.