Billy Timmins
Ceist:43 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the amount of funding allocated by his Department which is not yet drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25610/98]
Other Questions. - Departmental Funding.
The unexpended funds at the disposal of my Department in 1998 which have yet to be drawn down amount to £27.683 million. These funds span across most of the subheads in the Department's Vote and it is expected that they will be fully expended before year end.
Will the Minister confirm that £5 million which was targeted for locally based responses to the drugs problem in the worst affected areas will be unspent this year, that substantial funding for local development remains unspent, that £3 million of the grant for the provision of major sports facilities remains unspent and will be diverted elsewhere and that £1.273 million allocated for drug testing and other activities will remain unspent and will be diverted into non-sporting activities?
I have indicated to the Deputy that it is expected that all money will be expended before the end of the year.
It will be spent elsewhere.
The £5 million to which the Deputy refers will be drawn down and used as the drugs task force requires it. The Deputy is fully aware of that.
Does the Minister consider it acceptable, when drug abuse is a major problem throughout the country, that £5 million allocated to tackling the problem in a preventive way will remain unspent and will be allocated to other uses such as tourism marketing? This situation is the result of the Minister's incompetence and is disgraceful.
The Deputy reiterates the question.
Because the Minister has not answered it.
Every party in this House is concerned about the problem of drug use in disadvantaged areas. The Government has provided more money to fight the drug problem in these areas than any previous administration. All money available to the drugs task force and needed by it will be drawn down as required.