Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the budget allocation for the actual expenditure by his Department in implementing the actions of the National Drugs Strategy Unit for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35296/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department is making a significant contribution in support of the prevention pillar of the National Drugs Strategy through funding projects in local drugs task force areas.

In the period 2007 to 2010, my Department provided funding for a significant number of projects in local drugs task force areas. In the context of difficult fiscal circumstances, the global allocation available for these projects in 2010 was reduced by 32%, as compared to the allocation for 2009.

During 2010, my Department carried out a review of projects, a number of which overlapped significantly with projects in the Youth Work area funded by the then Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and also with the School Completion Programme funded by this Department's Social Inclusion Unit. The review, therefore, focused on whether the projects could more appropriately and more efficiently be funded through these funding streams. Following the review, 21 projects, by agreement and with appropriate funding, transferred to the then Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, from January 2011. Also, two projects, with funding, merged with the School Completion Programme which, during 2011, became the responsibility of the new Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Five projects continue to receive allocations from my Department.

Having regard to the above explanation, my Department's expenditure for projects in the years 2007 to 2011 is as follows:

2007 - €3,621,000

2008 - €3,651,000

2009 - €3,643,000

2010 - €2,461,000

2011 - € 411,000

The reduction in budget allocation in 2011 was because the majority of projects were transferred to other Departments.