Small drug projects ‘will not survive latest cuts’

Many hard-pressed drug projects will not survive the latest cuts to funding following the budget, according to community groups.

The Department of Health’s Drugs Initiative budget has been cut by 5%, bringing total funding from €31.5m to €29.9m.

Joan Byrne of Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign said funding under the initiative has fallen 34% since 2008. “If the 5% cut is implemented, some projects won’t survive, particularly the smaller projects,” said Ms Byrne.