Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 5

Written Answers. - Youth Services.

Richard Bruton

Question:

29 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether the drugs service and facilities fund is currently inadequate for the numbers of drug abusers in the local drug task force areas; the reason it will not be expanded upon in 2004, in view of the fact that current expenditure in the Estimates 2004 have only been increased by ?1 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28638/03]

Paul Connaughton

Question:

40 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of the additional funding allocated to RAPID and other socially disadvantaged areas and communities as a result of the reimbursement of dormant account funds, this money will be used to fund the expansion of the young peoples services and facilities fund beyond the local drug task forces areas and the four other urban centres of Galway, Limerick, Carlow and Waterford which currently receive funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28642/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 40 together.

The young peoples facilities and services fund, YPFSF, was established in 1998 to assist in the development of 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 primarily preventative in nature in that it seeks to divert "at risk" young people away from the dangers of substance abuse, as opposed to the provision of treatment services for drug misusers.

To date, the main focus of the fund has been in the 14 local drugs task force, LDTF, areas and four urban areas, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Carlow, where a serious drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. To date, more than €59 million has been allocated under the fund to support approximately 350 projects.

The national assessment committee, NAC, for the fund, which is chaired by my Department, is currently considering a number of strategic issues relating to the fund and in this context, the committee recently met each of the development groups. Among the issues discussed were the completion of round 1 facility projects and the staffing and management of the bigger scale facilities; and the mainstreaming of round 1 services projects, which have been successfully evaluated, thereby ensuring their continued funding by the relevant statutory agencies; and their priorities for round 2 of the fund.

The NAC is further considering these issues with a view to making recommendations to the Cabinet Sub-committee on Social Inclusion in early 2004 particularly on round 2 allocations. An amount of €33.5 million has been allocated in my Department's Estimates for 2004 to fund a range of drugs initiatives, including the YPFSF. This represents a 5% increase in the funding provided in 2003 and clearly confirms the Government's ongoing and sustained commitment to tackling the problem of drug misuse in Ireland. I am confident the funding allocated in the 2004 Estimates will allow for the valuable work being undertaken under the fund to be consolidated and expanded in 2004.

There are no plans at present to extend the fund beyond local drugs task force areas and the urban areas referred to above. However, the matter will be kept under review, particularly in the light of ongoing work being done by the regional drugs task forces. The task forces are currently working on mapping out the patterns of drug misuse in their areas, as well as the services already available in the areas, with a view to co-ordinating existing services and addressing gaps in service provision.

The dormant accounts disbursement plan provides that over the first year of the plan, the total allocation under the economic and social disadvantage heading will be for the purposes of assisting programmes or projects within RAPID, CLÁR and drugs task force areas. In subsequent years, those areas will receive not less than half of the annual allocation under this heading. It is open to organisations, groups, etc. which satisfy the criteria to make applications for funding under the scheme which was advertised in the national press on Friday, 21 November 2003.