Vol. 554 No. 5
1331 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will examine the existing legislation dealing with the Criminal Assets Bureau in order to distribute the proceeds of crime to the elderly, youth and disadvantaged. [15483/02]
The National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 provides for 100 individual actions to be taken across the full range of Departments and agencies involved in the delivery of drugs policy. While it is difficult to arrive at an accurate estimate of public expenditure in the area because of this broad approach, it is estimated that the development, co-ordination and delivery of the various elements which make up the strategy programme approximated to £144 million in 2000 (source: "Building on Experience", the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, pg. 62).
In addition, the local drugs task forces (LDTF) ensure a fully integrated response to drug-related problems in the worst hit areas which takes specific account of the needs of those areas. Significant resources are being invested so that action plans developed locally to tackle drug-related problems, which complement and add value to existing services, are being implemented effectively on the ground. To date, the Government has allocated more than €51 million to implement the LDTF plans. As a direct result, more than 300 drug-related projects are now up and running in LDTF areas.
I illustrate this detail to underline that the Government is fully committed to providing a comprehensive response in the community to drug-related and crime problems through funding for activities which are approved by Dáil Éireann in the normal way. I acknowledge that there may be some symbolic as well as practical value in the idea that assets which are determined by law to be the proceeds of crime be committed directly, even if only in part, towards anti-drugs and other related programmes.
