The Northern Ireland Executive's recent draft budget proposes to reduce funding by 4.8 per cent in 2008/09. There will be a small increase of 1.1 per cent in 2009/10.
Doug Nicholls, national secretary for youth and community workers at the union Unite, criticised the plans. "This is a kick in the teeth to one of the most cost effective youth services in the UK and Ireland," he said. "Ministers should remember the role of youth workers in the peace process delivering cross-community work."
Francis Loughlin, Unite's Northern Ireland convenor for the community and youth workers, said: "I can't see this having anything but a major impact on services. It is likely to lead to job losses and service cutbacks."
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