256. Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress of plans to extend the Drug Treatment Court currently operating in the Dublin 7 area to the wider Dublin area; the budgetary provisions the Government is making to allow for this extension of the Court; and if he will extend the Drug Treatment Court to cover the rest of the state. [18597/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): Earlier this year, it was announced that the Pilot Drug Treatment Court, currently operating in the Dublin 7 area, was to be placed on a permanent footing. It will be extended on a phased basis to the wider Dublin area in consultation with the other agencies involved in supporting the Court. The President of the District Court has assigned a Judge of the Dublin Metropolitan District Court to the Drug Treatment Court on a permanent basis. The effect of this is to bring the Drug Treatment Court in closer contact with the other courts in the Dublin Metropolitan District from which the clients of the Drug Treatment Court are referred. I am satisfied that the Court is providing a very worthwhile and innovative service and I will provide it with every support going forward. In this regard, the possibility of extending the Drug Treatment Court to areas outside Dublin will be considered. The Drugs Court is funded from within the existing resources of the Courts Service.