Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 821: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he proposes to increase or improve funding to community based groups involved in the fight against drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34563/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the majority of expenditure allocated to community groups through my Department for drugs initiatives is channelled through the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces.

The current allocation for the Drugs Task Forces for this year is in the order of €32m.

Capital funding of around €4.5m was also allocated in 2009. This allocation will fund existing and some new initiatives under the Premises Initiative Fund and it will also complete the outstanding commitments under the once-off 2008 Regional Youth Initiative Fund.

Overall, I am satisfied that the funding being provided in 2009 by my Department will continue to facilitate the delivery of valuable community-based initiatives to help address problem drug use.

The Deputy will be aware that the Drugs Strategy is based on a co-ordinated approach across many Government Departments and Agencies and my Department's allocation is part of a much bigger investment programme in drugs services by these other bodies. In 2008, it was estimated that total expenditure on drugs programmes was over €275m and initial indications are that this level will be broadly maintained in 2009.