Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of money that has been given by his Department to local and regional drugs task forces since they were first established in 1997; if he is satisfied this has had a positive impact on tackling the drug problem here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12104/10]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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From the establishment of my Department in 2002 up to 2009, in the region of €197m has been made available for drugs initiatives which, in the main, have been delivered through Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces. This figure excludes expenditure under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, responsibility for which transferred to the Department of Education & Science with effect from 1st January 2009.

I am satisfied that the Drugs Task Forces continue to make a positive impact on the drugs problem in Ireland through their community-based approach and a further €31m will be made available to support and enhance their work in 2010. In this regard, it should be noted that the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 recognised the key role that the Task Forces have played in addressing the drug problem in Ireland in recent years and believes that they will continue to play a strong role in the coming years.