THE Cabinet has sanctioned the spending of £20 million in the next three years to develop youth services, it was announced yesterday.
The announcement came as the Government's anti drugs task force called for more youth services to combat the spread of drug misuse throughout the State.
In addition to the £20 million already sanctioned, money seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau will go to develop youth services.
The announcements were made by the task force chairman, Mr Pat Rabbitte, Minister of State, at the publication of its second report.
The report deals with drugs other than heroin, mainly ecstasy. Heroin was considered in the first report. It recognises that ecstasy and cannabis are used by young people in every town in the State "and is closely associated with youth culture".
For this reason, the task force recommends education and "harm reduction" programmes, the latter to reduce the risk to those who will take drugs anyway. Harm reduction can include such measures as urging the owners of buildings in which raves are held to ensure that sufficient water is available.
Youth services are seen by the task force as a key weapon in the fight against drugs. In addition to the £20 million, the Government is asking private companies to make significant contributions to the fund.
The Cabinet has agreed that money seized by the Criminal As sets Bureau will go to the fund. Mr Rabbitte said it was appropriate that the drug barons' ill gotten gains should be used to fund services for young people.
The need to assess the different methods for treating addicts is also considered in the report. It seeks the establishment of an advisory body to do this work and to make recommendations. Others measures recommended include:
. Sports development officers to work with isolated young people in a number of areas to be chosen for pilot projects.
. Specialist outreach programmes for young people not in touch with any services or organisations.
. Youth leaders to be employed in disadvantaged communities under the community employment scheme and other programmes.
The members of the Ministerial Task Force on Measures to Reduce the Demand for Drugs are: Mr Pat Rabbitte (chairman); Mr Gay Mitchell, Minister of State for the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs; Ms Liz McManus, Minister of State for the Environment; Mr Austin Currie, Minister of State for Health, Education and Justice; Mr Bernard Durkan, Minister of State for Social Welfare; Mr Bernard Allen, Minister of State for Education and the Environment; and Mr Brian O'Shea, Minister of State for Health.