COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 13, 2012

MOTION NO. 13

MOTION: Councillor J. Hannon, Councillor T. Gilligan, Councillor J. Lahart, Councillor E. Walsh 2009

That this Council condemns the 75% cut  by the Dept of Environment, Community & Local Government for Mainstreamed Drugs Funding in respect of North Clondalkin Communty Safety Forum/South West Safety Forum, Fettercairn Estate Management, and Killinarden Estate Management Project, and requests the Manager to outline the extent of consultation, if any,between the Dept and this Council, and to take all appropriate action to ensure the restoration of necessary funding to these essential projects.

REPORT:

The four projects referred to in the question are the:

v     North Clondalkin Community Safety Forum

v     South West Safety Forum,

v     Fettercairn Estate Management

v     Killinarden Estate Management Group.

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government advised the Council that 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 funding being provided to support this Department’s mainstreamed drugs projects under the Housing programme in 2012 has been reduced by 75%, i.e. from €400,000 to €100,000 (€496,000 in 2008). In respect of the four projects within South Dublin County Council the 2011 allocation was €210,000.  They advised that in this context, it is no longer possible to continue to fund the mainstreamed drugs projects within that allocation.

The Department  provided pro rata funding of €52,500 for the first quarter of 2012 only as a final housing budget contribution to these projects.

The first official correspondence on the 75%reduction was received on 13th January 2012 and officials of the Council sought an urgent meeting with the Department which was held on 19th January 2012 where the Council outlined the work of the projects and their success over the years in working with the community, Gardai, the Council and many other state agencies. The Council officials sought a reversal of the decision or alternatively look at other budget heads to assist in retaining the projects. Contact with the Department has been ongoing since the meeting of the 19th.

The view of the Department is that Drugs Task Force monies are funded by Department of Health and funding for these groups should not be funded from the DOECLG Housing Budget.

The funding for the four projects – Fettercairn and Killinarden Estate Management Group and North Clondalkin Safety Forum and South West Clondalkin Safety Forum – was channelled through the Council from the Department to the groups and mainly provided for wages of the four workers plus miscellaneous funding for small projects and/or administration. The four workers operate to a governance structure to a management Committee – SDCC has a representative on the Committees as do a number of other relevant state agencies and groups.

The workers have been an asset to the local communities, the Council and all other relevant state agencies in terms of information from within the local community, organising clean ups, summer projects, events, Local Policing Fora, working on joint projects generally funded in the main by the Councilas well as providing a representational role on a number of fora in the area.They are of value particularly in terms of their independent role within communities, paricularly disadvantaged communities, and providing a valuable link between those communities and state agencies including the local authority. Their link specifically with the Council has been one of positive influence in tackling crime, anti social behaviour - all complex and sensitive issues - in addition to promoting the pro social behaviour agenda and providing confidence in the community in a partnership approach.

Their value and evidence based work is especially crucial to the work and efforts of the Drugs Task Forces also and underpins pillars of the National Drugs Strategy. Drugs Task Forces have a key role under the National Drugs Strategy in responding to the drug problem in their areas and Community engagement is key to the successful implementation of the national drug strategy and to developing responses to emerging needs at a local level.

The Department had advised that the Council should determine if the projects can be supported within the overall mainstream functions due to the close alignment of the projects with the general housing functions. They further advised that it would be a matter for all public funding bodies as part of the consultation process to identify resources to deliver on the overall objectives of the reconfigured projects beyond end of March 2012. The Council adopted its Budget for 2012 on 15th December 2011 and it is not possible to fund the four projects for the year as necessary funds are not available without effecting the works and service delivery as provided for.

Council officials have, since the meeting with the DOECLG, also met with Dodder Valley and CPLN Partnerships on 27th January 2012 and also attended a meeting with elected members and the project promoters on Monday 30th January 2012 at which the support of other relevant groups was sought and has continued dialogue with the Department officials on the matter.

The Council is also aware that the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, who has responsibility for the national drugs strategy, is currently undertaking a review of the structures that underpin the strategy at local, regional and national level. This will include how current funding structures can be improved or streamlined, particularly with local and regional drugs task forces.

In a letter dated 3rd February 2012 the Department has advised the Council that :-

"As you know, following the Government’s Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the 2012 Estimates process, the funding to support the Department’s mainstreamed drugs projects in 2012 has been reduced by 75%, i.e. from €400,000 to €100,000.  In that context, it is not possible to continue to fund the mainstreamed drugs projects within that allocation.  You are also aware that the Department had agreed to facilitate a consultation process, in conjunction with the Council, the relevant local drugs task forces, Department of Health, HSE and other key funders, with a view to identifying alternative streams of funding to support the projects for 2012 and beyond.  Furthermore, while this consultation process is taking place, the Department also agreed to provide pro rata funding to support the projects for the first quarter of 2012 only.

 I now wish to advise you that, in order to ensure that projects have sufficient time to identify alternative streams of funding and/or to undertake a reconfiguration of project tasks and priorities, the Department will provide additional pro rata funding to support the projects for the second quarter of 2012, i.e. to 30 June 2012. "

 Please note that 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.  This payment represents the final housing budget contribution to the projects and no further mainstreamed funding will be provided by the Department.  As previously, outlined, it will be a matter for other public funding bodies to identify the resources to deliver on the overall objectives of the reconfigured projects beyond end June 2012."

The Council will continue to work with the Department and all other stakeholders on this issue.