Launch of CityWide response to the Government's National Drugs Strategy

19 Oct 2009

Speaking at the launch of the CityWide response to the Government's National Drugs Strategy, Daithi Doolan, Citywide Co-ordinator said, "It is now a fact that every city and town in Ireland is being affected by the ongoing drugs crisis yet this government sees fit to relegate responsibility for its own National Drug Strategy to that of a part-time job. Most progress was made in tackling the drug crisis when the National Drugs Strategy was headed up by a full time Junior Minister with a seat at the cabinet table. The facts speak for themselves, 400 people in Ireland die of drug related deaths every year, Ireland's drug trade is now worth €650m, there is widespread intimidation, gangland killings and anti social behaviour as a result of drug dealing. Yet this year the government has already cut €2m from Drug Task Force budgets. These cuts are financially reckless, they will have long term damaging effects on our communities and will end up costing the state more in the long run. For example, for every €1 spent on drug rehabilitation, the state saves €3 in other services. We will be paying for these cuts long into the future.

Next year communities are faced with even further cuts. The cuts proposed by McCarthy will further undermine 600 projects funded by Local Drug Task Forces. This will result in redundancies and closure of front line services."
Doolan explained, "CityWide will continue to work in partnership with others to implement the National Drugs Strategy, but to succeed there must be a serious commitment from government. We are calling for:

  • A full time Junior Minister who will attend Cabinet.
  • No cuts to funding or resourcing of the National Drugs Strategy.
  • Ring fence money from CAB to fund drug services
  • Community participation and consultation in the National Substance Misuse Working Group.
  • Political parties to make the drugs crisis a political priority."

Doolan concluded by urging, "An Taoiseach to reinstate a Full Time Junior Minister with adequate resources to tackle the drugs crisis and implement the National Drugs Strategy."