Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 4

Written Answers. - Anti-Drugs Measures.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

9 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs has met since the budget; if so, the Government decisions, if any, and if these were implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1594/98]

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

10 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by anti-drugs groups regarding the failure of the Government to allocate funding for the youth services development funds agreed by the previous Government arising from the second report of the Ministerial Task Force on Measures to Reduce the Demand for Drugs; the plans, if any, he has to discuss the matter with the chairpersons of the 13 local drugs task forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1727/98]

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

11 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the number of occasions on which the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs has met in 1998; the number of times which it is proposed to meet over the next six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3894/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Mr. Flood)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 10 and 11 together.

The Cabinet sub-committee reviewed the findings of relevant Ministers on the extent of the needs of young people in the most disadvantaged areas. As a result of proposals submitted to Government, a Programme for Young People at Risk has been established.

The centrepiece of this programme is a young people's facilities and services fund to which £30 million is being provided over the next three years. This fund will be used to support a variety of capital and non-capital projects in disadvantaged areas.

At least £20 million of this fund will be targeted at those areas particularly affected by the heroin problem. The initial provision of £1.25 million allocated in the budget is now being increased to £7.5 million. The fund is in addition to the £10 million already approved by Government towards the implementation of the action plans of the 13 local drug task forces.

As a further measure to ensure the co-ordination of measures to support young people at risk, the Government have appointed Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, to be Minister of State at the Departments of Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in addition to Health and Children.

In my capacity as Minister of State with special responsibility for the national drugs strategy team, I intend to meet the chairpersons of the local drugs task forces in the near future to outline the Government's plans in relation to the operation of this fund.

As Deputies will be aware, the conduct of Cabinet meetings and Cabinet sub-committees is an internal matter for Govenment. However, the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion will meet as frequently as required to co-ordinate the various initiatives which are being taken in the area of social inclusion.