State fails to meet spending target to develop youth plan

THE Government has failed to meet its spending plans to develop services for young people, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) said last night.

Youth Affairs Minister Síle de Valera published a five year €35 million National Youth Work Development plan three months ago.

But NYCI expressed anger that an increase of just 1% - to €30.8 million - was given to youth organisations for their activities next year in the spending Estimates published on Thursday.