Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 323 and 350 of 18 October 2011, the progress that has been made in setting out a budget for funding for Leader projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4960/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in the reply to Questions 350 and 524 of 18 October 2011, I am not in a position to make any decisions regarding additional funds for the types of project referred to at this time. Discussions between my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to this matter are ongoing. Any decisions taken will be made in the context of the overall budgetary situation in due course.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a report on the withdrawal of funding from community safety forum workers, listing the total reduction for these posts; the number of and location of the posts affected; the date on which the decision was taken to withdraw these funds; the date on which the relevant local authorities and employer bodies were informed; if consideration was given by him to the consequences of withdrawing the funds in terms of redundancy payments; if he will provide a full list of the services provided by the community safety forum workers; the arrangements that have been put in place by him to ensure that the services provided by community safety forum workers will continue to be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4964/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As part of the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the 2012 estimates process, difficult decisions have had to be taken in relation to prioritising funding for core services in all programme areas. The funding estimate to support my Department's mainstreamed drugs projects under the Housing programme in 2012 is €100,000 compared with €400,000 in 2011, i.e. a reduction of 75%. One of 5 drugs projects mainstreamed to my Department's Housing programme was the Clondalkin Community Safety Forum and, in 2011, funding was provided through South Dublin County Council for two workers with the Forum. Given the estimates reduction in 2012, it is not possible for my Department to continue funding the project.

My Department is currently engaging with South Dublin County Council to explore alternative funding mechanisms for the three mainstreamed drugs projects in its functional area. A consultation process has been proposed involving Clondalkin Community Safety Forum with the County Council and relevant local bodies, including Clondalkin Local Drugs Task Force, the Joint Policing Committee and the Local Policing Forum, with a view to identifying alternative funding mechanisms for this project for 2012 and beyond. While this process is underway, my Department has agreed to provide pro rata funding of €52,500 to support the three projects in South Dublin County Council for the first quarter of 2012. This represents the final housing budget contribution to the projects. It will be a matter for all the public funding bodies, as part of the consultation process, to identify resources to deliver on the overall objectives of the reconfigured projects beyond end March 2012.

The Department of Health, which has overall responsibility for policy and funding in relation to the National Drugs Strategy, has advised that the total provision for the 24 local and regional drugs taskforces in 2012 is €29.581 million. Specifically, Clondalkin and Tallaght Local Drugs Task Forces have been allocated some €1.422 million and €1.250 million respectively to fund their activities in 2012. In addition, in the context of a public funding provision of €260 million for drugs programmes across all Departments and agencies in 2011, my colleague the Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy is currently undertaking a review of the structures that underpin the National Drugs Strategy at local, regional and national level, including how the current funding structures can be improved or streamlined, particularly in relation to local and regional drugs task forces. My Department has no information in relation to employment and funding of community safety forum workers under the aegis of any other Government Department or agency.

The Programme for Government makes a commitment to build on existing community policing partnerships and fora to enhance trust between local communities and their Gardaí. Accordingly, the Department of Justice and Equality has commenced a review of how the Joint Policing Committees have operated since their establishment, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, my Department and local authorities, to be followed by a broader consultation process, with the aim of seeing how their operation might be improved. The Department of Justice and Equality is in contact with local authorities in this regard, and work on the review is ongoing.