Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make arrangements to facilitate community and voluntary drug projects in operating for the first six weeks into 2011 on the basis of the 2010 funding to enable projects to continue to function normally while awaiting their 2011 allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43221/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Officials from the Office of the Minister for Drugs (OMD) have had discussions with the channels of funding on the need for prompt and timely release of the 2011 interim funding from my Department to drugs task force (DTF) projects. Furthermore, the officials met with the DTF Co-ordinators in October, at the OMD's initiative, on the topic of simplifying the administration associated with the release of these funds to avoid any unnecessary delays.

In addition, I have requested DTFs to ensure, where necessary, that projects have a small carryover of funds into 2011 to cover pay and other essential costs arising in January 2011, pending the release of 2011 funding.