Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 841: To ask the Minister for Health the budget allocation and actual expenditure for the National Drugs Strategy Unit in his Department for the years 2011 and to date in 2012 and for the same unit when it was part of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35293/12]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 842: To ask the Minister for Health 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, 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35294/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 841 and 842 together. In furtherance of the National Drugs Strategy, my Department administers a Drugs Initiative, which primarily funds community based drugs initiatives supported by the Drugs Task Forces. The budget allocation and actual expenditure for the Drugs Initiative for each of the years referred to by the Deputy is set out in the table.

The reduced allocation in 2009 reflects the transfer of responsibility and funding for the Young Peoples' Facilities and Services Fund to the then Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with effect from 1st January that year.

As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the functions in relation to the National Drugs Strategy transferred to my Department from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs on the 1st of May 2011. Accordingly, my Department's expenditure accounts for €17.571m of the total 2011 spend.