Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to facilitate drug addicts dependant on centres (details supplied) once cuts are implemented and effects are felt. [47147/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fear in many drugs projects that they will not be able to deliver their services if he implements cuts in his budgets, including closure of services. [47148/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he had consultations with persons and workers at centres (details supplied) before proposing cuts. [47146/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will issue guidelines on participation on task forces to community representatives in view of the fact that the global budget to drug task forces will be reduced. [47401/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will ensure that funding will be released to task force funded projects and programmes as a matter of urgency. [47402/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will ensure that six weeks funding, and not the proposed two weeks, is front loaded to task forces to avoid any task force being forced to seek overdrafts. [47403/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 56, 70, 234, 235 and 236 together.

In 2010, funding of €36.2m is being made available for drugs initiatives supported through my Department, an overall reduction of approximately 11%. While this funding will allow for a significant number of projects in Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces to be maintained, I acknowledge that the reduction may result in the scaling back of some projects. However, my Department will be seeking to have front-line services protected to the greatest extent possible. In excess of €31 million has been made available to fund the activities of Drugs Task Forces next year of which €21.06m is being provided for the Local Drugs Task Forces and €10m for the Regionals. Despite the overall reduction in funding available, I am confident that the work of the Drugs Task Forces will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by drug misuse.

In this context, the Deputies should note that over the past few months, I met with all Drugs Task Forces and funding for 2010 was among the issues discussed in all cases. I emphasised the need to prioritise projects with a view to ensuring the most effective use of resources and the most beneficial outcomes for service users. Needs and priorities change over time and consequently, Drugs Task Forces and service providers must ensure that funding is realigned to match changing circumstances. The Task Forces are fully engaged in this process and I have given them the scope to redirect funding within their allocations to best address the realigned priorities that they identify for their areas of operation. I am satisfied that this approach will help to minimise the impact from the reduction in funding in 2010.

All of the Task Forces have now received their allocation for 2010 and have been asked to return their detailed funding proposals to the Office of the Minister for Drugs (OMD) by 16th December. On 10th November last, my Department wrote to each Task Force setting out the procedures in relation to the 2010 allocations. Given the likelihood of a reduction in monies for drugs initiatives in 2010, Task Forces were asked to review all projects being funded by them to ensure that they were drugs targeted and evidence-based; can show tangible outputs and outcomes; are addressing current gaps and local needs in their areas and can demonstrate clear links with the priorities as set out in the National Drug Strategy 2009-16.

The Task Forces were similarly asked to identify the areas to assimilate a reduction in funding in 2010. These could include negotiating rents and administration charges; lowering overheads; sharing resources; partnership approach and merging. My Department strongly recommended that this exercise be undertaken and completed by the end of November. I am satisfied that the detailed guidelines already advised to the Task Forces have been - and continue to be - taken into account by their members, including community sector representatives. The OMD is in on-going contact with representatives of the statutory agencies which act as channels of funding for the Task Force projects. Every effort is being made by the Office to ensure that funding will be released to the projects at the earliest possible opportunity in 2010.

In addition, I have made provision for essential funding for the first two weeks of January to be made available to a number of projects where this has been identified as necessary. I am satisfied that two weeks of funding is the appropriate amount required. During 2010, it is my intention to review the funding procedures in place in relation to drugs initiatives to see whether any adjustments are necessary.