Minister of State Tony Killeen T.D. today welcomed the allocation of EUR25k to the Mid West Regional Drugs Task Force (MWRDTF).The MWRDTF is among 14 Local Drugs Task Forces and 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces to benefit from the Government's Capital Premises Fund 2009 for Task Force voluntary and community-based projects. "The purpose of the capital premises fund is to meet identified emerging 'once off' capital needs in existing Local and Regional Task Force areas to cater for drug specific task force projects", explained Minister of State Killeen. He continued: "The EUR25,000 allocation is in respect of small refurbishment works and/or the purchase of equipment, which have a significant benefit and impact at community level. All existing projects in the Mid West Task Force Region will have the opportunity to apply for funding under this scheme through the MWRDTF."
Minister of State Killeen added that the funding announcement by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was evidence of the Government's ongoing commitment to fully implementing the National Drugs Strategy. "Community based projects, such as those provided by the Mid West Regional Drugs Task Force, are central to tackling drugs misuse and implementing the National Drugs Strategy. There must be services on the ground to deliver programmes to those most in need. There is no doubting that the MWRDTF has done tremendous work over the last number of years to foster and progress this", he stated.
The MWRDTF was established under the National Drugs Strategy (2001-2008) to research, develop, implement and monitor a co-ordinated response to illicit drug use at regional level, based on evidence of what is effective. The Task Force is responsible for ensuring the development of a co-ordinated response to tackling drugs problems in counties Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and Limerick City.
