More Funding Needed To Tackle Drug Scourge Gripping Ireland - FF

Fianna Fáil has said that more investment is needed to tackle the "drug scourge" gripping Ireland.

Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Mid-West, John Curran has said the Government's poor attitude towards delivering much needed funding to Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in communities nationwide, is "letting down those most in need of support".

Last week all nine former ministers who have held responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy came together to call on the Taoiseach to act to reinvigorate drugs policy as the situation is now at epidemic proportions.

Deputy Curran said: "The task forces play an essential role in communities across the country by providing a targeted response to emerging trends in drug and alcohol use.

"Ensuring that they are adequately funded is a matter of public health. For these services to remain in communities to support those with problematic drug and/or alcohol use, they need to receive consistent levels of funding year-round."

Deputy Curran noted that drugs such as cannabis are becoming more potent in Ireland and too many people are living with the daily nightmare of drug-related intimidation and violence.

"During a time when drug and alcohol use is on the rise, particularly among our young people, this serious issue was not mentioned or featured in the Government's funding agenda for 2020. What we need to see is investment in community-based services to tackle the ongoing issues.

"This Fine Gael government continues to neglect this very serious problem. The lack of collaboration poses a risk to the success of the scheme and we urgently need to see change in this area," concluded Deputy Curran.

(MH/CM)