Home > Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 616 & 622 - Departmental projects [3661/10]

[Oireachtas] Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 616 & 622 - Departmental projects [3661/10]. (26 Jan 2010)

External website: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2...


616. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will support a project (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [3523/10]

622. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the public concern regarding the implications of the €1.2 million cuts in projects in local drugs task force areas in Dublin City and county; his views on whether such a cut would be short sighted in view of the preventative nature of these projects; if this funding will be reinstated in order that these projects, which have already been evaluated, will continue to provide essential supports to at risk young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3661/10]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 622 together.

My Department provides funding for thirty eight projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas, including the project specifically referred to by Deputy McGrath. These projects, through a variety of programmes and activities, seek, in the main, to encourage young people not to engage in drug-taking. My Department originally took on responsibility for funding these projects through a mainstreaming process, whereby projects on interim funding were assigned to a number of departments and State agencies. Thirty five of the projects are administered by the three VECs in Dublin City, Dublin County and in Dún Laoghaire, while the remaining three projects are funded directly by my Department. The allocation for the 38 projects over the past three years were as follows:

2007 — €3,621,000;

2008 — €3,715,000;

2009 — €3,643,000.

Arising from Budget 2010, it was decided that funding for these projects was to be reduced to €2,461,000 in 2010. My Department is currently reviewing the implications of this decision for the individual projects concerned.

Vol. 700 No. 1
Written Answers
Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Repository Staff Only: item control page