65 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the amount of funding to date which has been drawn down by the local drugs task forces; the plans, if any, he has to establish local drug task forces in other parts of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19982/99]

The Government allocated £10 million to support the implementation of over 200 projects in the action plans of the local drugs task forces. This funding is held in the Vote of my Department and is transferred, on request as projects become operational, to other Departments and agencies, which are acting as channels of funding to the approved projects. Approximately £8.1 million has been drawn down by these Departments and agencies to date.

Following a positive independent evaluation and review of the operation of the task forces, the Government approved their continuation for a further two years and have allocated an additional £15 million over two years to enable them to update their action plans. This funding will be available from the beginning of next year and will also allow issues which cut across all task force areas to be addressed. These issues will be identified by the task forces themselves in the course of preparing their action plans.