Vol. 491 No. 1
50 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the latest position on the steps being taken to overcome problems with delays in drawing down funding for approved projects in local drugs task force areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11239/98]
The National Drugs Strategy Team, in consultation with the relevant statutory agencies and the local drugs task forces, prepared procedures for the disbursement of funding to implement approved projects in the task force plans. These procedures were approved by the Cabinet Committee on Drugs and subsequently by the Government at the time. To date, the procedures have been operating satisfactorily.
While I am aware that difficulties had existed in relation to the drawdown of funding for some of the approved projects in one task force plan which are being funded through a VEC, I have been assured these are now being processed as speedily as possible in accordance with normal public financial procedures.
