Funding for the DRIVE programme
Gannon asks how much budget funding the drug-related intimidation and violence engagement programme will receive. Carroll MacNeill says the amount is not finalised but notes an additional €7 million for the wider drug strategy.
I ask the Minister about the drug-related intimidation and violence engagement, DRIVE, programme, which is funded by her Department. We all recognise that drug-related intimidation is endemic the length and breadth of Ireland at the moment. We have seen the horrors of that in its full force last week. Last year, the DRIVE programme received annual funding of €280,000 from the Department of Health. That was increased in September with an extra €65,000. What funding has been allocated to the DRIVE programme in this year's budget?
Comment on this
The Deputy is right; that is within my Department. We are in the process of developing the letter of determination for the national service plan for 2027. I will have to come back to him with a specific amount because that is not finalised. However, we have put significant additional funding into the implementation of the drug strategy this year, of which, of course, that is an important part. There is an additional €7 million on top of what was there before, so it is now €11 million for the implementation of the drug strategy. A key part of that is working in the community, with communities, with drug and alcohol task forces and the DRIVE programme, which is important and excellent. I hope people will have confidence in it. That comes in part by continuing to fund it and make it available.
I will come back to the Deputy with more specifics.