Government urged to back drug taskforces

THE Government is being urged to protect local drug taskforces from cuts in next week’s budget.
The call was made by Dublin North West TDs, John Lyons (Lab) and Dessie Ellis (SF), during a meeting last week at Leinster House with taskforce members and local representatives.

“I am hosting this briefing session for TDs about the upcoming budget and the effects further cuts would have on the important work of the local drug taskforces across the country, but particularly in north Dublin city,

? said Deputy Ellis.
The Sinn Fein TD said there had been overall cuts of between 30-45 per cent to the funding of the taskforces since 2008.

“This has resulted in the loss of vital projects and frontline staff,

? he added.

“The amount of projects lost over the last number of years has caused huge problems for our communities. They have been a major blow to the constant battle against addiction and its causes.

“We can take no more and we hope that everyone can come together, no matter what their politics are, to fight any attempted cuts into the future.

“The taskforces have done enormous work with scant resources and they need continued support.

?
Following the briefing it was agreed by a cross party group of TDs to petition Minister for Health Leo Varadkar to meet with them and representatives of the LDTFs to discuss the matters raised.