Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 616: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will support a project (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [3523/10]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 622: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the public concern regarding the implications of the €1.2 million cuts in projects in local drugs task force areas in Dublin City and county; his views on whether such a cut would be short sighted in view of the preventative nature of these projects; if this funding will be reinstated in order that these projects, which have already been evaluated, will continue to provide essential supports to at risk young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3661/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 622 together.

My Department provides funding for thirty eight projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas, including the project specifically referred to by Deputy McGrath. These projects, through a variety of programmes and activities, seek, in the main, to encourage young people not to engage in drug-taking. My Department originally took on responsibility for funding these projects through a mainstreaming process, whereby projects on interim funding were assigned to a number of departments and State agencies. Thirty five of the projects are administered by the three VECs in Dublin City, Dublin County and in Dún Laoghaire, while the remaining three projects are funded directly by my Department. The allocation for the 38 projects over the past three years were as follows: 2007 - €3,621,000 2008 - €3,715,000 2009 - €3,643,000

Arising from Budget 2010, it was decided that funding for these projects was to be reduced to €2,461,000 in 2010. My Department is currently reviewing the implications of this decision for the individual projects concerned.