Approx. €22m in current funding is being provided by my Department in 2008 to support Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF) projects. Of that, over €8m relates to 108 projects targeting under 18s, including some cross-Task Force projects. The National Drugs Strategy Team oversees the work of the Task Forces.
The type of projects funded range from drugs education workers, prison links workers, counsellors, youth information projects and outreach services. Some of the projects funded are not exclusively for under 18s — rather they encompass family members under family support projects and community drugs teams' initiatives.
This year, additional funding has been provided to all the Drugs Task Forces to facilitate local and regional drugs awareness campaigns to dovetail with the national campaign, focusing on cocaine. These will be particularly pertinent to young people as the Drugs Prevalence Survey 2006/07 confirmed that illegal drug usage is predominantly a younger adult phenomenon, particularly among the 15-34 year age group.
Under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, which targets 10-21 year olds at risk of drug misuse, current funding of the order of €17m is being provided this year to support the employment of over 350 youth and outreach workers, centre managers and administration staff. Consistent with the Taoiseach's announcement in May last, arrangements to transfer responsibility for the Fund to the Office of the Minister for Youth Affairs and Children are currently being progressed.
Overall, I am satisfied that the level of funding for projects in LDTF areas, including those targeting under 18s, is building on the on-going progress being made through the National Drugs Strategy to tackle problem drug use.