Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2004
14 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will advise the various health boards throughout the country that part of the funding administered through them was specifically allocated to drive the drugs task force programme; and if he will recommend the health boards to identify and employ appropriately skilled staff to drive the programme. [16779/04]
View answer19 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the make up of the drugs task forces throughout the country. [16777/04]
View answer75 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount which has been allocated to the health boards to specifically fund the drugs task force programme; the way in which the money was spent; and when the money will be allocated in regional areas in which this funding has not yet come on board; and the way in which it will be used. [16781/04]
View answer76 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when funding will come on board to resource the various regional drugs task force projects at regional level. [16778/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 19, 75 and 76 together.
Under the national drugs strategy, ten regional drugs task forces, RDTFs, have been established throughout the country. The RDTFs represent a team-based response to illicit drug use with each task force being chaired by an independent chairperson and made up of representatives from State agencies working in the region, the community and voluntary sectors and elected public representatives. All of the RDTFs work in partnership in a manner similar to the local drugs task forces.
Currently, the RDTFs are mapping out the patterns of drug misuse in their areas — as well as the range and level of existing services — with a view to better co-ordination and addressing gaps in the overall provision. In this context, the Deputy should note that a sum of €500,000 has been provided by my Department, in the current year, for administrative and technical costs incurred by the RDTFs in the preparation of their plans. In addition, I understand that an amount of €50,000 has been allocated to each RDTF by the appropriate health board, to assist with ongoing administrative and staffing costs in the current year.
The work currently under way by the RDTFs is likely to take up most of the current year and will then feed into the drafting of regional action plans, which will be assessed by the National Drugs Strategy team in due course. I am hopeful that all of this work can be completed by early 2005 and that I will then be in a position to bring recommendations in relation to the funding of the plans to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. I would expect the RDTFs to be in a position to begin the implementation of their plans by mid 2005.
