Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if phase two and phase three of the dial-to-stop drug dealing scheme will proceed as planned; the locations in which the scheme is operational; if there is funding available to operate this scheme after 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13587/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the first phase of the Dial-to-Stop Drug Dealing Campaign operated across five Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces areas in late 2008. These campaigns were funded by my Department (€100,000) and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (€50,000). Following Government approval, €300,000 has been allocated from the Dormant Accounts Fund for 10 further campaigns. Phase 2 campaigns have already rolled out in the following areas:

Cork Local Drugs Task Force and the Southern Regional Drugs Task Force (23rd March);

Co. Kerry (25th March); and

North Dublin City and County RDTF (31st March).

The remaining two Task Forces under the second phase — Mid-West RDTF and South East RDTF — will launch their campaign on 2nd and 27th April respectively.

Dates for phase 3 of the campaign have not yet been finalised but it is likely that they will be rolled out towards the end of April/beginning May 2009 in the following areas:

East Coast RDTF;

Bray LDTF;

Dun Laoghaire LDTF;

Finglas Cabra LDTF; and

Midlands RDTF.

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, there is no scope, at present, for further campaigns. However, by the end of phase 3, I am confident that all Task Forces that expressed an interest — and had the capacity to do so — will have received funding to run a campaign in their areas.

Again I would like to emphasise, as I highlighted during the national launch, that the confidential number used in the campaign is open for all to use, regardless of which area they come from. Calls from the areas that have already run campaigns are still being made to the confidential phone-line.