Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the role of community organisations in the national drugs strategy; his plans to support community groups and workers who tackle the drug problem in communities here; if funding for such groups is guaranteed into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23917/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the implications for frontline services of his most recent decision to cut the budgets to the local drugs task forces by a further 15 to 20%; his views on whether the impact of the cuts will be to wipe out certain services, reduce programmes and closure of premises and job losses at a time when drug use and drug related harm to individuals and communities are on the increase; and if he will reverse the cuts. [23867/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 59 together.

Community and voluntary organisations have an important role to play in the National Drugs Strategy at a number of levels. At a local level, through the Drugs Task Force network, they are involved in planning and developing community services. Nationally, they also make a valuable contribution to policy development through the input of their representatives.

In this context, the Deputies should note that the community and voluntary sectors were represented on the Steering Group set up to develop proposals on the new Drugs Strategy and their input was facilitated and supported throughout that process. Many community organisations also contributed to the various consultations meetings that were undertaken as part of the Steering Group's work.

With regard to expenditure, as the Deputies will be aware, the majority of drugs funding allocated to community groups and projects by my Department is channelled though the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces. Of the total drugs funding in my Department's Vote in 2009, over 92% is targeted at Task Force-related activities.

The revised allocation, following the April 2009 Supplementary Budget, for community-based initiatives in the Task Force areas is €32.5m which will support in the region of 530 projects. In this context, it should be noted that the original allocation for LDTFs was €23.4m, while the revised allocation is €22.3m which is approximately a 4.7% reduction.

Unfortunately, no area is immune to cost cutting measures in the current economic environment. It is in this context that all Drugs Task Forces must live within the budgets allocated for their areas of responsibility and I fully appreciate this involves some difficult choices having to be made.

Sustained incremental funding over recent years has facilitated, amongst others, the strengthening of existing projects in the LDTF areas, the rolling out of projects and initiatives in the RDTF areas, the introduction of new initiatives and responses to address cocaine usage, measures to support rehabilitation and the ongoing investment in capital projects. These are recognised by Government as key areas to support communities to address the harm caused by problem drugs use and to deliver meaningful solutions. I can assure the Deputies that our primary concern has been - and continues to be - the protection of front-line community-based services delivering vital programmes and initiatives in areas worst affected by problem drug use.

I am, of course, acutely aware of the challenges reduced budget allocations pose. I know that other Departments and agencies are also very aware of this in the context of their engagement in the Drugs Strategy and the available funding to them for mainstreamed drugs services. However, we have to take account of the current economic reality and of the pressure on the public finances. This, inevitably, means that some schemes will be affected but I believe properly managed this may lead to and foster better interagency working to the benefit of all.

Finally, it should be noted that the Drugs Strategy is based on a co-ordinated effort across many Government Departments and Agencies and my Department's allocation is only part of a much bigger investment programme in drugs services. In 2008, it was estimated that expenditure on drugs programmes across all the bodies was in the region of €264m and expenditure in 2009 is expected to be broadly similar.