A LOCAL Southside TD has called for a new urgency to tackle the growing problem of open drug dealing in his constituency.
Deputy Seán Crowe (SF) said that he had never before seen the scale of drugs that is currently being openly sold in communities across the Southside.
“I have been involved in the local Drugs Taskforce practically since it was established,” Deputy Crowe said. “I have highlighted drug problems since the early days of the heroin epidemic in Dublin. I have long campaigned for supports and resources for communities and those with a drug addiction.
“I have to say, that I have never before seen the scale of drugs that is currently being openly sold in our communities.
“Yet there are less members in the Tallaght Drugs Unit now than there was 10 years ago.”
The Sinn Féin TD raised the issue with the Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, in the Dáil where he told the Minister about constituents who every night have drug dealers gather outside their homes to sell heroin or cocaine, including crack cocaine.
“They have had to move children from their bedrooms because they can’t sleep with the shouting and noise from cars pulling up and speeding away,” Deputy Crowe added. “I told the minister about shop owners who have to close early because of drug dealing in front of their shops.
"I told him of a young person growing up looking at open drug dealing in their communities and passing drug paraphernalia that is littering their communities on the way to school. I spoke of the alarming normalisation of drug taking and drugs.”
Deputy Crowe continued: “We need a change of strategy from the Government and a new urgency to tackle this growing problem.
“I want to see a range of new supports made available for communities to fight back. Communities feel left behind.
“We need to empower people and to encourage communities, but they need to know you have their back.
“This problem cannot be addressed without the support and involvement of communities.
“New thinking and new strategies, and a whole new approach, is needed if we are to begin the fight back against open drug dealing in our communities.”
In December, it was revealed in a new report children as young as 12 were being used by criminal gangs on the Southside
The report, entitled ‘Building Community Resilience found that children as young as 12 are being used by gangs in the south inner city.
The research was carried out by Dr Johnny Connolly from the University of Limerick Centre of Crime, Justice and Victim Studies.
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Justice and Equality, Deputy Jim O’Callaghan has expressed his alarm and anger at the findings.
Deputy O’Callaghan said: “This report has found that children as young as 12 years of age are being groomed into gangs in the south inner city. It makes for disturbing reading.”