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

The primary purpose of this Topical Issue matter is to draw attention to the issue and get a more proactive response to it. Every day I see drug-dealing in my community. It is an attack on the community in which it happens, and no one should have to live beside it. That is the other big problem. I asked in my initial contribution what one says to those people living beside this open drug dealing. Should one tell them to ring the Garda authorities? They will say they have done that, that they do it nightly but they do not get a response. They want to see this open drug dealing closed down. That is not unreasonable, no matter where it is happening, and it is not just in my community. Anyone who goes outside this door will see it happening within ten minutes. It is happening everywhere.

I am trying to focus on what is happening in my community. I have been on the local alcohol and drug task force practically since its establishment. I was involved in trying to highlight the problems throughout Dublin in the early days of the heroin epidemic and so on. I am one of those who has campaigned for resources and support for those who are in addiction. I am still involved in that work. I also want supports put in place for these communities. We need to empower and encourage people, and I do not see that happening, given the open drug dealing taking place.

To end on a negative, there are fewer personnel in the drugs unit in Tallaght now than ten years ago. I will be told that members of the Garda are all involved in tackling this issue. The reality, however, is that the community almost feels as if it has been forgotten and that it is almost acceptable to society that this drug dealing should be allowed to happen in certain areas. The message we need to send out is that we are aware of this and will act on it. I hope the Minister can do that.

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