Vol. 559 No. 5
389 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress to date in setting up the regional drugs task forces across the State; the budgets which will be available to these task forces; and the way in which the community representatives who will be on the task forces will be appointed. [26664/02]
Under the National Drugs Strategy, 2001-2008, it is proposed to set up regional drugs task forces, RDTFs, in the ten health board regions throughout the country. The present position regarding their establishment is that nominations have been sought by the National Drugs Strategy Team, NDST, from the various sectors involved, including the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. The NDST have also prepared guidelines for their operation in consultation the relevant sectors and agencies.
It is proposed, that the community fora, which nominate members to the social inclusion groups of the city-county development boards, will have responsibility for the nomination process in relation to the community representatives. The nomination process must take account of the need for a broad based consultation with community groups who are interested and-or involved in the drugs issue. The RDTFs will represent a team-based response to illicit drug use. It is my intention that all of the RDTFs members will work in partnership, in a manner similar to the local drugs task forces.
390 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of funding being made available to tackle the increasing levels of drug use in society by providing alternatives and diversions for people at risk of drug abuse; the amount of money being made available specifically to the Traveller community to tackle the increasing levels of drug use in society by providing alternatives and diversions for people at risk of drug abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26665/02]
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has overall responsibility for overseeing the work of the local drugs task forces (LDTFs), which are based in the 14 areas of high drug misuse in Dublin including Tallaght, Cork and Bray. All of the LDTFs are currently implementing their second round plans and, to date, more than €14 million has been allocated to implement these plans.
Two projects specific to Travellers have received funding under the LDTF plans. Funding of €42,930 was provided for a Traveller support group in the Dublin north east LDTF area and funding of €41,067 was provided for a cross – task force project aimed at providing a culturally specific response to the problem of drug use in the Traveller community. The former project involved the employment of a youth worker to develop and deliver prevention and education programs to the traveller community in Dublin north east. The latter project is to develop an outreach, assessment, counselling and referral service for Travellers recruiting a worker with a view to linking clients into appropriate services.
This project will link with a Travellers drugs co-ordinator who was appointed under the first round of the LDTF plans. The post was subsequently mainstreamed by the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The health authority also sanctioned the appointment of a development worker to be part of this team.
The Deputy should also note that my Department manages and oversees the operation of the young people's facilities and services fund. The fund, which was established in 1998 as part of the Government's overall strategy to tackle drug misuse, aims to assist in the development of youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. The objective of the fund is to attract at risk young people in disadvantaged areas into these facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance misuse. The primary focus of the fund is on the 14 LDTF areas and the four urban centres of Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Carlow.
