504. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the funding provided for the north east local and regional drug and alcohol task force, on an annual basis from 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  [13245/15]

Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force plays a key role in coordinating action at local level so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in its catchment area. Community-based drugs projects in the North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force area were funded through the Drugs Initiative of my Department until the end of 2013. On 1 January 2014, my Department transferred funding and operational responsibility for community-based drugs projects in the North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force area to the Health Service Executive in order to improve accountability for their activities and expenditure.   The following table shows the allocations to the North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force from both sources since 2010.