Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We all accept that the problem is getting worse. It is to be seen throughout the country. The first issue is that there is no real strategy outside of task force areas. I mentioned that key players are not sitting around the table. That needs to be addressed at Government level. Those stakeholders should be encouraged or forced to attend the meeting.

There is positive work happening in communities, but I detect that people are tired and exhausted from the challenges they face. One of the new challenges that has emerged in recent years is that of drug intimidation, which is widespread. Children, adults and grandparents experience it. This needs to be addressed and supports need to be given to communities that find themselves in that situation.

There used to be additional funding provided to the task forces to address emerging needs but that funding is no longer available. We are, therefore, not adapting to the changing nature of the drug problem. Dual analysis is a further issue. Is it a mental difficulty or is it an addiction? There is a shortage of skilled people to define the condition.

The overt nature of the problem is the most frightening aspect to this. On Hallowe'en night, a local drug dealer in my area organised a fireworks display that would have cost €40,000. They are buying up shops and businesses. That is the nature of the problem.

The situation has changed. We do not see the Criminal Assets Bureau getting involved or attending drug task force meetings, so we do not get any sense of there being joined-up thinking on the proper approach to the problem.

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