Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak to this very important motion and commend Deputy Curran for bringing it forward. I support both it and the Sinn Féin amendment.

There is no doubt that drugs are to be found in every town and village across the country. I hesitate to say this in case there might be an inference that it is normal or acceptable. Of course, it is not and it is being driven by criminal elements. I support the Sinn Féin amendment which states the harm caused is not exclusive to disadvantaged communities. It is clear that it is a problem that is evident across society. There is drug dealing openly taking place on the streets, in nightclubs and outside and, in some cases, inside schools. Families and communities have been devastated. There is major bullying and intimidation and assaults and deaths have happened. As others said and as most Members in the Chamber and I are aware, even after a death drugs dealers do not stop intimidating bereaved families into paying outstanding debts. That is terrible and it is happening on a regular basis. In 2016 there were 736 drug-related deaths, four times the number in road traffic accidents. We do not seem to have an effective deterrent or strategy for dealing with the problem. In fact, in recent years the budget to tackle it has, unfortunately, been cut. For a number of years the budget has effectively been frozen, having been cut in previous years.

The numbers of gardaí in local drug units have been reduced. There are six gardaí in the unit in County Tipperary, which is unbelievable but true. County Tipperary is 120 miles long and that number of gardaí is simply not adequate to deal with the problem. Unfortunately, the partnership model for dealing with it is under pressure and at risk. It is quite clear to everybody that this epidemic can only be dealt with through co-operation between voluntary, community and statutory organisations. I commend all of the voluntary and community organisations involved, not just in my constituency but jalso across the country because they do Trojan work.

Mental health and the level of homelessness are impacted on by drugs. Mental health services are under pressure. This is an area in which mental health and homelessness services simply do not cope well with. To some extent, they consider they are not able to or do not have the resources to cope with it.

Like other public representatives in County Tipperary, I met the Garda Commissioner at the meeting of the JPC in Thurles last Friday. Having attended the meeting, I am not confident that the absolute necessity to deal with this issue is appreciated at senior Garda level. We were given generalised promises and little or no specific data for this or any other issue.

It was indicated that this is happening, that it should not be happening and that the Garda is dealing with it. Unfortunately, it is not dealing with it. I was also concerned at what I believed was an indication from the Commissioner that the community policing service, which is absolutely vital in dealing with drugs, drug misuse and alcohol abuse, would not get the priority it deserves into the future. I am worried about those areas.

This issue needs community policing, partnership between the community, voluntary and statutory agencies, more financial resources and more manpower. I hope this debate will at least start a discussion, a debate and some action on this area because what we are doing now is simply not working and we are simply not doing enough.

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