Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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427. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding to South Dublin County Council in 2016 to continue the important work of the estate management project in Fettercairn estate and of the safety forum in Killinarden estate in Tallaght; his views on the importance of these estate management initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42637/15]

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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In line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Government is committed to continuing support for initiatives to tackle the drug problem. Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and coordinating action at local level, so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in local communities.

The Department of Health allocated additional funding to Tallaght Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force in 2013 to support community safety fora in the Task Force area. This funding has helped to secure the long term sustainability of community safety initiatives developed by the estate management groups in Killinarden and Fettercairn in Tallaght.

Every effort has been made to protect the budgets of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in recent years. The overall allocation to Tallaght Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force for community-based drugs initiatives from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive in 2016 is €1,234,952. This is the same overall level of funding allocated in 2015. It is a matter for the Task Force to ensure that the budget is effectively deployed to address current priorities and locally identified needs, including in relation to the issue of community safety.