Sir, - As a group involved in tackling the drugs crisis in our local community, we note with extreme concern the reduction in the Youth Development Fund from the promised figure of £20 million to £1.25 million.The fund is a key preventive measure in relation to providing young people in disadvantaged areas with alternatives to drug use. Its announcement was welcomed by local communities as an indication of a commitment by government to address the issues which lead young people into misusing drugs. Therefore the failure to allocate any significant resources to establishing the fund is viewed with serious concern by this organisation.This Government is putting a lot of emphasis on high-profile activities in going after the drugs barons. This is obviously welcome; but it must recognise that low-key, everyday work on the ground in local communities is just as important.We are calling on the Government to make good immediately its election commitment and to allocate the £20 million as promised for the Youth Development Fund. - Yours, etc.,Finian McGrath(Principal),St Mary's Boys School,Dorset Street,Dublin 7.