Government cutbacks for local drugs projects ‘an assault on communities’

THERE was further angry reaction yesterday to Government cutbacks for local drugs projects.

The Irish Examiner revealed yesterday that community projects will have their budgets cut by around 15% in the second half of the year. The cutbacks, which stem from the April budget, follow controversial moves by the Government to radically alter the structures operating the National Drugs Strategy.

This includes the dismantling of the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST), a high-level management body which brought together, under an independent chairperson, the community, voluntary and statutory sectors.