Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 427: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the withdrawal of funding for the three community developments posts in areas (details supplied) in Dublin; if this decision will be reversed as a matter of urgency in view of the contribution of these schemes to the communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9425/12]

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 433: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current budget of the social inclusion unit within his Department; the projects that have been funded since he was appointed; the amount that each has received in social inclusion funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9142/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 433 together.

I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 175 and 191 of 2 February 2012, which set out my Department's funding for a range of programmes related to social inclusion activities.

As part of the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the 2012 estimates process, difficult decisions have had to be taken in relation to prioritising funding for core services in all programme areas. The provisional funding estimate to support the mainstreamed drugs projects under my Department's Housing programme Social Inclusion Unit budget for 2012 was €100,000, compared with €400,000 in 2011, i.e. a reduction of 75%. In view of this reduction, my Department informed the relevant local authorities, Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council, that it would not be possible to continue funding the 5 projects concerned throughout 2012. Pro rata funding would be provided for the first quarter of 2012 only, while a consultation process got underway between the projects, the Councils and other bodies to explore alternative funding mechanisms for the projects for 2012 and beyond.

In the interim since 2 February 2012, and having regard to difficulties identified by the Councils, the projects and other funding partners in ensuring that the 5 drugs projects have sufficient time to identify alternative streams of funding and/or to undertake a reconfiguration of project tasks and priorities, my Department has also agreed to provide additional pro rata funding to support the projects for the second quarter of 2012, i.e. to 30 June 2012, through a transfer of a €100,000 within the provisional Housing programme estimate for 2012.

This funding is being provided strictly on a once off basis and on the clear understanding that it represents an extension of the transitional arrangement only, thereby providing projects with sufficient time to undertake a fully comprehensive consultation to identify future alternative funding mechanisms. It will be a matter for all the public funding bodies, as part of the consultation process, to identify resources to deliver on the overall objectives of the reconfigured projects beyond end June 2012.

The table sets out the details of the 5 mainstreamed drugs projects, including the project in question, showing the amount funded through my Department's Housing programme Social Inclusion Unit budget in 2011 and the pro rata funding which will now be provided to end June 2012.

Furthermore, in the context of a public funding provision of €260 million for drugs programmes across all Departments and agencies in 2011, my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy is currently undertaking a review of the structures that underpin the National Drugs Strategy at local, regional and national level, including how the current funding structures can be improved or streamlined, particularly in relation to local and regional drugs task forces.