Coalition decimates anti-drugs funding

Paul Donnelly

Sinn Féin’s Dublin West representative Paul Donnelly has severely criticised the government’s further 11% cut in drugs task force funding.
“I am dismayed at the lack of strategic thinking emanating from the present government,” said Donnelly, who is also chairperson of his local Mountview/Blakestown Community Drugs Team. “It is well known that during times of unemployment, drug misuse increases. There are indications from young people and others of a huge explosion in the use if benzodiazepines and ‘skunk’. Not only are we trying to deal with the long-term problem of heroin and cocaine use, but our project is trying to divert young people away from getting involved in the drug culture in the first place.
“And yet, funding has been cut by 28% since 2009. This is an unacceptable cut that will affect some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
“I am asking local people to protest to their local Fianna Fáil councillors and to their local TDs. They must hear our voices loud and clear, that these cuts are not acceptable and will be resisted.”