ANGER AT ANTI-DRUGS PACKAGE

UDP leader Gary McMichael was today seeking an urgent meeting with NIO
Minister Adam Ingram to express concern at the lack of community
sector involvement in the new anti-drugs funding package.

Yesterday Mr Ingram announced that over pounds 2m would be given to 16
new projects.

The initiative, designed to support implementation of the Northern
Ireland Drug Strategy, launched last August, will be financed from an
additional pounds 5.5m made available over a three-year period to
tackle drug misuse.

Mr McMichael, chairman of Lisburn Drug Awareness Project, said: "It is
noticeable that there are no community projects among the successful
projects and a minority of voluntary sector projects.

"Despite the emphasis on community involvement in the drug strategy,
the community sector is not represented in the panels that assessed
and adjudicated on the bids and has been ignored in the outcomes."

Falls Community Council also expressed its "deep anger and
disappointment" at the funding package.

Project co-ordinator Gerry McConville said: "We are aware that several
good proposals were put forward from community organisations in
Belfast and Lisburn.

"In particular, we are disappointed that the community sector in north
and west Belfast has been completely omitted."