I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 39 together.
Ten Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) were established in 2003. Following extensive consultation processes, each RDTF prepared a Strategic Plan to respond to illicit drug use in their areas and the implementation of these Plans is now progressing.
As one would expect at the plan development stage, expenditure was low in the early period and is now building up as progress on the implementation of the Plans accelerates. Over the three year period 2004–2006, a total of approximately €5.2m was spent by the RDTFs on the implementation of their Plans. Of that amount, over €4m was expended in 2006 and expenditure in 2007 is likely to exceed €7m. Expenditure will increase further in 2008 as the RDTFs progress towards the full implementation of their Plans which have a full cost of approx €14m per annum. Furthermore, It is now open to RDTFs to seek capital funding under the Premises Initiative and approx €0.8m has been allocated for this so far in 2007. It is expected that allocations under this heading will increase next year.
The following table sets out the area covered by each of the ten RDTFs, current expenditure 2004-2006, the approximate population and the number of people whose employment is funded through each RDTF
Regional Drugs Task Forces
Regional Drugs Task Force: Mid West
Region: Clare, Limerick and Tipperary NR
Expenditure 2004-2006: €0.437 million
Approximate Population: 361,028
No. of Persons employed: 7
RDTF Personnel: 3
Project Workers: 4
Regional Drugs Task Force: Midlands
Region: Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath
Expenditure 2004-2006: €0.210 million
Approximate Population: 251,664
No. of Persons employed: 4
RDTF Personnel: 3
Project Workers: 1
Regional Drugs Task Force: North East
Region: East Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan
Expenditure 2004-2006: €0.671 million
Approximate Population: 362,096
No. of Persons employed: 21
RDTF Personnel: 3
Project Workers: 18
Regional Drugs Task Force: North West
Region: Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo and West Cavan
Expenditure 2004-2006: €0.241 million
Approximate Population: 269,109
No. of Persons employed: 7
RDTF Personnel: 2
Project Workers: 5
Regional Drugs Task Force: Southern
Region: Cork and Kerry (excl Cork City)
Expenditure 2004-2006: €0.398 million
Approximate Population: 501,754
No. of Persons employed: 23
RDTF Personnel: 1
Project Workers: 22
Regional Drugs Task Force: Western
Region: Galway, Mayo and Roscommon
Expenditure 2004-2006: €0.501 million
Approximate Population: 414,277
No. of Persons employed: 12
RDTF Personnel: 2
Project Workers: 10
Regional Drugs Task Force: East Coast
Region: Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown and Wicklow
Expenditure 2004-2006: €0.468 million
Approximate Population*: 188,231 (excl Bray and Dún Laoghaire)
No. of Persons employed: 16
RDTF Personnel: 3
Project Workers: 13
Regional Drugs Task Force: Northern Area
Region: North Dublin City and Fingal
Expenditure 2004-2006: €0.390 million
Approximate Population*: 239,992 (Fingal only)
No. of Persons employed: 10
RDTF Personnel: 2
Project Workers: 8
Regional Drugs Task Force: South West
Region: South Dublin City, South Dublin, Kildare and West Wicklow
Expenditure 2004-2006: €0.455 million
Approximate Population*: 433,270 (Kildare and South Dublin)
No. of Persons employed: 8
RDTF Personnel: 3
Project Workers: 5
Regional Drugs Task Force: South East
Region: Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary SR, Waterford and Wexford
Expenditure 2004-2006: €1.437 million
Approximate Population: 460,838
No. of Persons employed: 26
RDTF Personnel: 0 (vacant)
Project Workers: 26
Total Expenditure 2004-2006: €5.208 million
(*The population figures are approximate, with particular reference to the latter three above which cover parts of Dublin.)