490% increase in nitrous oxide canisters collected by Dublin City Council

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Dublin, Mark Ward TD, has called for urgent action to tackle an increase in nitrous oxide misuse.

The Dublin Mid-West TD was speaking after receiving information from Dublin City Council (DCC) that over 1,800 nitrous oxide cannisters had been collected by the local authority in the first three months of 2026 year, with 1,500 collected across all of 2025.

“All the evidence points to the fact that nitrous oxide misuse is increasing,” the Dublin Mid-West TD said.

“I have been raising this for a number of years, I spoke earlier this week of the latest report of increases in hospitalisations due to nitrous oxide misuse,” he said.

“If you walk through any housing estate or local park you will see large cannisters discarded on the ground. We have all seen the numbers increase.”

“Shockingly, this isn’t even the actual number. The response goes on to say: “these numbers don’t include total numbers of cannisters collected by DCC, as other departments are involved with their collection and disposal, and so the actual number is likely to be double what I have advised above.”

Ward said those were the figures from just one of Dublin’s four local authroties, saying it points to a “concerning” wider trend.

“There is a cost associated with collecting, storing and disposing these cannisters. This is only getting worse,” he said.

“My legislation to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide to legitimate usage, has been delayed in progressing until October. The government is sleepwalking into a nitrous oxide disaster. They are not paying attention to the evidence. They are not taking action to reduce this issue.

“Young people are presenting to hospital with nerve issues and frostbite and studies have shown that spinal cord damage from nitrous oxide is long-lasting.

“What will it take for the government to act on this serious issue?” he asked.