Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has called on the Government to create a Minister of State post to deal with Ireland’s growing drug problem.

Crowe was speaking  in the Dáil on a topical issue he tabled on a newly released National Drug-Related Deaths Index from the Health Research Board (HRB) and said new responses and new ideas were necessary to respond to the scale of problem.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“The National Drug-Related Deaths Index found that there were 5,289 deaths due to poisoning by alcohol and other drugs among drug users in period between 2004 and 2012. This is the population size of a small town.

“Why is this not being discussed on TV, radio, in the newspapers, and at Cabinet meetings?

“Poly substances, including methadone and heroin, are responsible for the highest amount of the deaths.

“Many of those active in drug prevention and rehabilitation believe that the number of deaths was much higher.

“In 2012 there were 633 deaths, a slight decrease on the previous year.

“Tallaght, in my constituency of Dublin South West, has had 85 drug related deaths since 2004and there were 14 deaths recorded in 2012.

“Yet Task Forces have seen multiple cuts in core services over the past 5 years. In Dublin alone the Canals Area’s budget has been cut by 29%, Ballyfermot 25%, Dublin North East 37%, Finglas 30%, Tallaght 23%, Blanchardstown 35%, and Walkinstown 24.7%.

“This is despite the fact that Drugs Task Forces have an increased workload because they now deal with alcohol abuse as well.

“Instead of getting new resources to tackle emerging needs, they are operating with shrinking resources.

“I believe that we urgently need a  dedicated Drugs Minister.

Crowe continued:

“The resources recovered and seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau need to be redirected to the communities most affected by drugs.

“We need more targeted education and rehabilitation projects and it is unacceptable that Government Departments like Education are increasingly refusing to attend Task Force meetings.

“A specific Drugs Minister needs to be appointed to oversee all of this and to begin tackling this huge societal problem that is affecting so many communities right across the State.”

ENDS