Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 1 December 2021
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health
Substance Misuse and its Impact on Communities: Discussion
Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Mr. Hamilton talked about open drug dealing in the area. It sends the wrong message, particularly to young people within those communities. Mr. Hamilton also talked about the projects being kept open during the pandemic. Something else that happened during the pandemic was that people noticed gangs gathering at particular sites and so on more often. People could not understand it because they were being told they were not allowed to gather as a family when up to 20 or 30 individuals were standing outside local shops. No one should have to run a gauntlet to get a pint of milk and certainly no one who was in treatment should have to force themselves through that.
Mr. Hamilton also mentioned the drug-related intimidation of individuals. Will he elaborate on the issue of children's allowance books being taken from people? Does he have any ideas about a buddy system? Can something be done to support vulnerable people in that situation?