Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the recent report on the Dial to Stop Drugs campaign; if he will continue to support this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19005/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing campaign ran in three phases, across fifteen Local and Regional Drugs Task Force areas, in 2008 and 2009. To date, there have been 6,468 calls made to the confidential line, with 1,780 reports being made to the Gardaí.

The report the Deputy refers to is a comprehensive evaluation of the campaign and highlights the obvious and tangible benefits of the phone line, e.g., providing valuable drug dealing information to the Gardaí. In addition – and equally important – it noted the intangible benefits of the safe and anonymous contact with Gardaí afforded to concerned citizens and communities. Allied to this is the definitive sense of community empowerment that has been cited repeatedly by Drugs Task Forces.

Due to the success of the campaign, funding has been made available by my Department in 2010 to keep the phone line open. Over the coming months, I will be reviewing various options for further promotional campaigns, perhaps through a more centralised approach or through potential linkages with other campaigns and fora. In the interim, the line will remain open for all to use.