Anti-drugs group to protest at Dail

A coalition of three Dublin anti-drug groups is to hold a protest at the Dail over the Government's failure to provide the promised…

A coalition of three Dublin anti-drug groups is to hold a protest at the Dail over the Government's failure to provide the promised £20 million in funding to a "youth development fund" for drugs-blighted areas.

In a statement yesterday, the coalition, calling itself the Dublin City-Wide Drugs Crisis Campaign, said there was widespread anger that the Government would, instead, be providing £1.25 million for such projects over the next three years.

A spokesman, Mr Mick Rafferty, said: "There is a great deal of anger and resentment among parents and youth workers about the way in which the Youth Development Fund has been decimated. The £20 million pledge must be honoured if Government is truly dedicated to supporting the fightback (against drugs) on all fronts."

The anti-drugs groups say they will hold a protest pageant outside the Dail when TDs return on Wednesday, January 28th.