John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 580: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm plans to ensure the retention of the vital estate management projects in estates (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if he will appreciate the importance of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26700/12]

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 had to be taken in relation to prioritising funding for core services in all programme areas. The provisional funding estimate to support the mainstreamed drugs projects under my Department's Housing programme for 2012 was €100,000, compared with €400,000 in 2011. In view of this, my Department advised the relevant local authority that it would not be possible to continue funding the projects concerned throughout 2012.

My Department is providing pro rata funding to fund the projects concerned until end June 2012 only, in order to allow the projects and other bodies to explore alternative funding mechanisms and identify resources to deliver on the overall objectives of the projects beyond end June 2012.

Following a consultation process, South Dublin County Council has recently advised my Department that the Council has identified interim funding to maintain the projects concerned during the second half of 2012. The funding was identified on a partnership basis between the Council and the Tallaght Local Drugs Task Force. The Council has advised that this funding represents a once-off contribution and will allow the projects to continue while the report of my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, on the review of the structures that underpin the strategy at local, regional and national level is finalised. It is understood that this report will consider how current funding structures can be improved or streamlined, particularly with regard to local and regional drugs task forces.

The provision of interim funding by South Dublin County Council and the Tallaght Local Drugs Task Force for the second part of 2012 provides a further opportunity to the projects to source alternative funds and/or to identify an alternative model for the delivery of services in the future.