Youth funding - Not a cent spent on youth needs

A YEAR ago today the Government promised to plough €37 million over the next five years into youth development - but not a cent has yet been spent.

Admittedly, Junior Education Minister Síle de Valera has allocated €620,000 to this year’s programme but no money has yet filtered down to those who need it.

Fine Gael criticism of the minister is warranted since a large part of this budget targeted the 200,000 disadvantaged teenagers most likely to get involved in crime.