My Department funds approximately 26 specific outreach posts through the Local Drugs Task Forces and 11 posts across the 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces. However, the Deputy should note that my Department also funds a number of other posts including community support workers, safety officers, education officers, prison links workers, project support workers, counsellors, prevention education workers, liaison workers, youth workers, health promotion officers, all of which operate through the Task Force structures.
Projects normally originate at community level and are submitted through the Drugs Task Forces to the National Drugs Strategy Team who make recommendations to me on funding. These projects are based on locally identified needs and priorities in the areas of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, education and research. The educational and professional criteria that workers must meet and their typical job descriptions will vary, therefore, according to the type of projects involved and target group that the individual worker will be engaging with.
In addition, the Deputy should note that under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, a number of outreach workers are funded — 6 in Dublin and 4 outside of Dublin. Under the Fund, a further 73 youth workers are employed in Dublin and 30 outside of Dublin, as well as 20 Sports Development Officers and 9 Football in the Community Officers.