Vol. 567 No. 5
425 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will continue to support social inclusion policies in relation to the RAPID and the drugs programme in Tallaght, Dublin 24; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this matter is of serious interest in Tallaght; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14243/03]
As the Deputy is aware, it is the role of my Department, assisted by ADM Limited to co-ordinate the implementation of the RAPID programme and I fully support the implementation of the programme in Tallaght.
My Department also has responsibility for the work of the local drugs task forces, which were established in 1997, in the areas experiencing the highest levels of drug misuse, particularly heroin. I would like to assure the Deputy of my ongoing commitment to the work of the task forces and to point out that since 1997, the Government has spent or allocated over €130 million to implement the proposals contained in the two rounds of plans of the task forces, the premises initiative for drugs projects and young people's facilities and services fund.
More than €8 million has been allocated to Tallaght under these initiatives.
Question No. 426 answered with Question No. 110.
