Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 April 2011
24 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the situation regarding the three community development posts at locations (details supplied) has been resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7968/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF) has an annual funding allocation from my Department for community-based drugs initiatives. From that allocation, each Task Force has the discretion to allocate funding to projects and initiatives based on the priorities it has identified for its respective area. Funding for these projects is channelled through a designated Department or State Agency.
I am advised that, in January 2001, following an evaluation of projects under Round 1 interim funding, project funding for three part-time community development worker posts in the communities referred to by the Deputy was mainstreamed to the Department of the Environment and Local Government, which was then responsible for the continued funding of this service. However, in April 2001, under Round 2, additional funding was approved to increase the level of service provided by making these posts full-time. The channel of funding for the project was Dublin City Council. However, in May 2005 the additional funding was discontinued by the former National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST), which managed the funding at that time, on the basis that the funding had not been drawn down. The Canal Communities LDTF then submitted proposals, which were accepted by the NDST, to re-allocate this funding to other measures. Dublin City Council continued to fund the full-time posts until December 2010. The Council has recently indicated that it cannot continue to provide the additional funding and can only support part-time posts. Accordingly, it is a matter for the Task Force to consider, having regard to current priorities, whether to maintain funding for full-time posts in the context of its 2011 allocation of €1.6m.
