Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Dec 1997

Vol. 484 No. 1

Written Answers. - Drugs Task Forces.

Michael Noonan

Question:

30 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the proposals, if any, he has to use sport and recreation as preventative elements in the fight against drugs and crime; and the way in which he will implement the proposals contained in the reports of the interdepartmental drugs task force that are relevant to his areas of responsibility. [21292/97]

Alan Shatter

Question:

32 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the proposals, if any, he has to use sport and recreation as preventative elements in the fight against drugs and crime; and the way in which he will implement the proposals contained in the reports of the interdepartmental drugs task force that are relevant to his areas of responsibility. [21288/97]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

35 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the moneys allocated to date in 1997 to support the work of the local drugs task forces as provided for in the first report of the ministerial task force; if his Government will continue to resource the local drugs task forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17255/97]

Denis Naughten

Question:

36 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the proposals, if any, he has to use sport and recreation as preventative elements in the fight against drugs and crime; and the way in which he will implement the proposals contained in the reports of the interdepartmental drugs task force that are relevant to his areas of responsibility. [21291/97]

Alan Shatter

Question:

70 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the proposals, if any, he has to use sport and recreation as preventative elements in the fight against drugs and crime; and the way in which he will implement the proposals contained in the reports of the interdepartmental drugs task force that are relevant to his areas of responsibility. [21290/97]

John Browne

Question:

78 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the proposals, if any, he has to use sport and recreation as preventative elements in the fight against drugs and crime; and the way in which he will implement the proposals contained in the reports of the interdepartmental drugs task force that are relevant to his areas of responsibility. [21293/97]

Michael Finucane

Question:

85 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the proposals, if any, he has to use sport and recreation as preventative elements in the fight against drugs and crime; and the way in which he will implement the proposals contained in the reports of the interdepartmental drugs task force that are relevant to his areas of responsibility. [21289/97]

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Mr. Flood)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 32, 35, 36, 70, 78 and 85 together.

The Government recognises that tackling the drugs problem requires a broad response across a number of key policy areas, including education, health and social welfare. In line with this approach, the Cabinet committee on drugs established by the previous Government has been reconstituted into a wider Cabinet committee on social inclusion which will address disadvantage in its broadest sense. This committee continues to be chaired by the Taoiseach but its membership has been extended to include other relevant Ministers, such as Finance and Social, Community and Family Affairs. Among the bodies reporting to this committee is the national drugs strategy team.

As Minister with overall responsibility for co-ordinating the Government's strategy to reduce drugs demand, I have responsibility for the national drugs strategy team, and for overseeing the implementation of the various recommendations in the two reports of the ministerial task force on measures to reduce the demand for drugs.

Arising from one of the recommendation in those reports, 13 local drugs task forces were set up (12 in Dublin and one in Cork) and were man-dated to prepare action plans to tackle the demand for drugs in their areas of operation. Funding of £10 million was set aside to support the implementation of these plans. To date, the Government, on the advice of the national drugs strategy team, has approved funding totalling £4.89 million to implement elements of the plans. The team is currently finalising its proposals to Government in relation to the allocation of further funding to task forces. It is expected that these proposals will be submitted to Government before Christmas. A sum of £10 million has been included in next year's Estimate for my Department towards meeting expenditure on the drugs initiative in 1998.

The Government recognises the part that sport and recreation can play in fostering a sense of community, especially for those living in disadvantaged areas and this is reflected in a number of plans already submitted by local drugs task forces and approved for funding by Government.