The Government response to the drugs issue had been "minimal and paltry" while £20 million of National Lottery money had been allocated to develop Croke Park, the National Youth Council of Ireland said yesterday. "Some £20 million was promised for a youth service development to reduce the demand for drugs. Only £1.25 million was spent," said Mr Peter Byrne, director of the NYCI.
He said large companies like the GAA had access to money and sponsorship "on a massive scale". "More deserving groups working with young people who scrape for every penny will have a bad taste in their mouths after the Budget."