Ongar councillor Angela Donnelly said that 10,000 nitrous oxide canisters were collected in the Dublin 15 area in 2024.
The stats were revealed at a recent local area committee meeting.
While 10,000 canisters were collected across all of 2024, only 200 have been collected by Fingal County Council so far in 2025.
The Sinn Féin councillor noted “there seemed to be a period, late last year and early this year, where there was a definite decline in the incidences of cannisters thrown on our streets and disposed of in our parks and public areas, but that has not been the case over the past few weeks.”
A recent report published by the HSE’s Adolescent Addiction Service has shown that 22% of young people attending their adolescent service admitted to taking nitrous oxide.
That figure is a 175% increase year-on-year, and Donnelly said, “this only captures young people that have come to the attention of addiction services.”
“The widespread use of nitrous oxide is resulting in antisocial behaviour, litter, and damage to people’s health. There is also an environmental impact after several incinerators around Europe suffered major damage when canisters exploded in their furnaces.”
A neurology specialist at the Mater Hospital warned that the gas causes a range of sensory issues including a numbness in their hands, feet and extremities, serious issues with balance, problems with their heart rate, and mental health issues, an increase in young people presenting for help after getting frostbite from using nitrous oxide.
Donnelly said she has been made aware of gas canisters in every area of the Ongar LEA that she represents as well as other areas in Dublin 15.
Last year, legislation which put forward by Sinn Féin which would prohibit the sale of laughing gas is now in place.
Speaking ahead of the bill, Southside Sinn Féin TDs Mark Ward and Seán Crowe said that there is “increased evidence of misuse of nitrous oxide in communities across Ireland and the increased incidences of harm.”
The bill, Donnelly contends, should only be the first step in tackling the issue.
“We now need gardaí on the beat in our communities, we also need youth services and drug teams to help deal with this problem. But most of all, we need all of these services properly resourced by the relevant government departments.”