Mr. Tony Duffin:

I thank the committee members for the opportunity to address the committee today. I am the CEO of Ana Liffey Drug Project. Ana Liffey was founded in 1982 in Dublin's north inner city. We provide a number of services in both Dublin and the mid-west, working directly with people who use drugs.

I will outline the key aspects of one of our services, namely, the law engagement and assisted recovery, LEAR, programme, which is designed to provide support to street-involved individuals with complex needs. The LEAR programme aims to balance the needs of the individuals we work with and public safety concerns by fostering close collaboration between An Garda Síochána and Ana Liffey Drug Project. Currently operational in Dublin city and Limerick city, at the heart of this project is a commitment to supporting individuals with complex and multiple needs, those being people experiencing addiction, criminality, homelessness, and mental health challenges. Our aim is to help them engage with support services, often for the first time, and to identify and achieve their personal goals. By focusing on recovery and reducing involvement in criminal and antisocial behaviour, we empower individuals to take meaningful steps towards a better future.

A key aspect of this initiative is our close partnership with An Garda Síochána. Gardaí in each partner station are specifically assigned and trained to identify and refer people who are suitable for the LEAR programme. These referrals are based on a shared understanding of the individuals’ needs and circumstances, and our collaboration extends beyond the initial referral. We meet with gardaí fortnightly to discuss updates on referrals, case progress and emerging hotspots in the environment. This regular communication ensures we are responsive to the needs of the people we serve. Our approach is rooted in assertive outreach, meeting people where they are, building trust and guiding them through the steps to meet their self-identified goals.

Central to our process is the principle of consent and confidentiality. Without it, trust cannot be established. Once a person engages with us, we co-manage their case in partnership with An Garda Síochána, offering low-threshold, outreach-based key working and case management. This includes overdose and relapse prevention and practical supports. Our care plans are pragmatic and grounded in the realities of the individuals’ lives. From helping with social welfare forms and housing applications to addressing outstanding legal warrants, we ensure every step is geared towards removing the barriers people face. By employing a trauma-informed and restorative justice approach, we address not just the immediate criminal and antisocial behaviours but also the root causes. We monitor crime trends and antisocial behaviour, working closely with gardaí to ensure our interventions are having a positive, long-term impact.

The LEAR programme achieves significant outcomes. We foster productive relationships between case managers, service users and An Garda Síochána, ensuring people progress towards their goals while receiving support with legal issues. This, in turn, reduces criminal activity and antisocial behaviour in the broader community. The LEAR programme’s effectiveness is also reflected in our work with the national drug treatment reporting system, where we manage hundreds of cases, ensuring people have access to treatment options and harm reduction services such as needle exchange. Our LEAR outreach had more than 800 interactions across Dublin in 2023. Through referrals from gardaí, community services and self-referrals, we engage individuals who are often the hardest to reach. For example, in 2023, we supported 83 clients in Dublin, all of whom had individual care plans in place. Our work with LEAR has shown that when people are treated with dignity and when the focus is on addressing their health and social care needs, we see better outcomes for both the individuals involved and the wider community. We are actively working with local gardaí across several areas, and as part of the LEAR programme, we have regular meetings with An Garda Síochána, as I mentioned. These meetings ensure we have the necessary co-ordination to provide effective outreach and support. Our outreach work also extends to newly identified emerging hotspots, and we are often the first to connect with street-involved people. At a macro level, we are building stronger organisational partnerships and creating mindset shifts that will contribute to more cohesive and effective responses to these complex social issues.

There are numerous examples that illustrate what success looks like, and I would be happy to discuss these further during the committee meeting. Some examples include an individual ceasing drug dealing in their community and engaging in restorative justice; another resolving alcohol dependence and domestic violence, which led to an end to Garda call-outs; and others have started local employment, begun volunteering at community events, or stopped aggressive begging. We have also seen individuals exit group drug dealing, and even refer peers who were involved in similar activities. These are just a few of the many positive outcomes we have witnessed. We are proud to work closely with An Garda Síochána and other services to help those with complex needs, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share our experiences and insights with the committee today. I look forward to further discussion on the LEAR programme and how we improve outcomes for people who use drugs while improving community safety. I thank the committee members for their time.