Youth Council seeks extra Govt funding

The National Youth Council has warned that voluntary services for young people will be in jeopardy next year unless the Government provides additional funding in the Budget.

In its pre-Budget submission, the council called for €2m in funding in 2004.

It said that, at present, core funding for local youth projects amounted to just €1-a-week per young person.

The Youth Council’s pre-budget submission also called on the Government to use money raised through taxes on alcohol and money collected by the Criminal Assets Bureau to tackle drug and alcohol abuse.

It also said the Government should not be afraid to borrow to invest in physical and social infrastructure.