Drugs strategy ‘seriously undermined’

DRUGS groups have accused the Government of “seriously undermining” the National Drugs Strategy by slashing both the drugs and community development budgets.

The CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign said the savings under Budget 2011 in these areas will “prove costly in the long run”, compared with substantial increases in other areas, including funding to the Central Statistics Office and the Office of Public Service Appointments. The budget details the following cuts to the Department of Community Affairs:

* A 7% reduction in the Drugs Initiative budget, dropping from €36.2 million to €33.8m.