Drug projects left in shock at slash in rehabilitation funding

Drug projects are furious at the cuts in the budget, particularly the slashing of funding for the rehabilitation of drug users.

CityWide, an umbrella body representing local drug projects, accused the Government of trying to “do away” with its own drug rehabilitation strategy by axing the training and materials budget for Fás schemes for drug users by 66%.

Joan Byrne, co-ordinator of CityWide, gave details of other cuts in the area:

• 7% cut in funding under the drugs initiative, affecting local and regional drug task forces.
• 12% cut in HSE funding.
• 5% cut in family support.
• 24% cut in drug-related education projects.

“There is a lot of anger and concern and to be honest, disbelief,” said Ms Byrne. “I’m almost paralysed with shock.”

She was particularly worried about the cuts for Fás special community employment (CE) schemes, which are part of the national drug rehabilitation strategy.

“There are 1,000 places ringfenced under these special CE schemes and they underpin the rehabilitation strategy.”

She said the combined funding for training and running costs for these CE schemes were €1,500 per person. That was now reducing to €500 per person, she said.

“Are they trying to do away with the strategy?” she said.

Gary Broderick, director of the SAOL Women’s Project, said he was “very angry and upset” by the cuts.

“It seems to me politicians are either stupid or think there’s no drug problem out there — that in some way methadone has solved the heroin problem and we have no one to buy cocaine.”

He said the polydrug problem now was “more complicated” to address and the drugs were “more toxic”.

“If the Government goes ahead with these cuts the kind of society we will be left with will wipe out all the progress over the last 15 years.”

Pat Leahy, chairman of Youth Work Ireland Cork, said the cuts would impact on a range of their projects, including a drug outreach project in Gurranabraher/Churchfield.

“If you reduce resources, we are left in fairly horrible position. You might have to cut money to projects or cut hours of workers. It’s going to hurt either way.”

A spokeswoman at the Department of Health said €31.5m had been provided for the drugs initiative, but no detailed breakdown was available.

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Source: Irish Exmainer, 08/12/2011