Vol. 478 No. 1
27 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Taoiseach the number of the 12 local drug task forces which have made their submissions for local funding; if funding has been allocated to any of these groups; if so, the amounts allocated; if he will give details of the projects concerned; if there is a deadline for submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10605/97]
A total of 13 task forces have been established arising from a recommendation in the first report of the Ministerial Task Force on Measures to Reduce the Demand for Drugs. Twelve of these are in the greater Dublin area, while there is one in north Cork city.
The Government has set aside funding of £10 million out of a total of £14 million in 1997 to fund the non-mainstream elements of anti-drugs plans which are being developed by the task forces to tackle the drugs problem in their areas. These plans are expected to contain comprehensive anti-drugs strategies for the areas concerned, involving proposals in relation to treatment, rehabilitation and prevention. The mainstream elements of the plans will be funded by relevant Departments and statutory agencies from their available resources.
In recent weeks, I have continued to meet various local groups and individuals involved in tackling the drugs problem. They have conveyed to me the new sense of hope which the establishment of the task forces, along with other measures which are being taken have given to their communities. It is essential therefore — the task forces are fully conscious of this — that the momentum and sense of hope which has been built up in recent months is not lost through a delay in bringing forward the local anti-drugs strategies.
In view of this, while there is no formal deadline for the submission of the plans, as I indicated to the leader of the Opposition in response to a Dáil question last week, the task forces are expected to submit their plans, or at least the priority elements of them, by the end of this month.
When the plans have been received and evaluated by the national drugs strategy team, recommendations will be made to Government regarding the allocation of funding to support their implementation. When this has been decided, an announcement will be made regarding the amounts allocated and the projects involved.
