Drug charity defends TD

THE manager of a Finglas drugs rehab centre has slammed recent reports into Deputy Dessie Ellis’s role as volunteer director of the service as

“petty and damaging

?.

On his election last year, the Sinn Fein TD had failed to disclose that he was a director of the Sankalpa holistic drugs centre when he submitted Ethics in Public Office documentation to the Dail clerk.

Deputy Ellis was concerned that some media outlets would put a negative slant on what he insisted was just a misunderstanding.

The bewildered TD explained that his failure to disclose the information was

“completely innocent

?.

Deputy Ellis tendered his resignation to the board of Sankalpa last year.

However, Tom O’Brien, manager of Sankalpa, worried that negative publicity in relation to Deputy Ellis’ role as a volunteer director would discourage others from taking up the position.

“Our board allows people to act as volunteer directors with limited liability to ensure the good governance of our charity,

? he told Northside People.

“Our board of directors have the responsibility of ensuring that the money given to us by the State is well spent.

“We rely on people of influence to be on our board for the leadership role they bring and the genuine interest they have in the local community.

?

Mr O’Brien described how now, more than ever, the charity needs politicians to volunteer with the charity.

“The drug problem in Finglas is bigger than ever,

? he said.

“We have a huge tablet problem and with the pressures on the economy we need people who can represent and understand how vital our work is at a local and national level.

“We don’t want a situation where people are afraid to take a role on our board for fear of how it would be depicted in the media.

?

He added:

“It’s not like Dessie was a director of a bank or a big, profitable company and failed to mention it in the Ethics in Public Office documentation.

?

He added that Deputy Ellis’s role of director was entirely voluntary and without any financial remuneration.

“Our work is very challenging and Dessie is one of the many who dedicated his time to try to quietly make a difference to the community without any credit,

? Mr O’Brien stated.

“We absolutely have a political campaign to increase awareness in the hope that these politicians will think of our centre and others like us that provide a vital service in the local community when they’re in the Dáil debating cuts to drug services.

?

Sankalpa is a holistic drugs treatment centre that works primarily with people who are seeking support to detox off methadone.

The centre also helps to support and advise participants on how to get and return to training, education and employment.