118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice how he intends to address the prevalence of drugs in rural Ireland and its consequences on community safety and criminality in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12683/25]

Sentiment score: 0.25

I wish the Minister and Ministers of State well in their new roles. I compliment An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners and other statutory agencies on the work being done locally and nationally to deal with the scourge of drugs. As we all know, drug addiction and drug abuse are very complex issues and we need a multifaceted approach that includes health services rehabilitation as well as the criminal justice system. I ask the Minister to outline any additional measures that will be implemented locally and nationally to deal with what is a growing and very concerning epidemic at present throughout rural and urban Ireland.

Sentiment score: 0.19

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I look forward to more youth justice projects being rolled out. They are a great investment in our young people and a great investment in communities where there is particular disadvantage. As the Minister of State will be aware, this issue needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency. It is really heartbreaking to listen to parents, siblings and family members who have lost loved ones through the use of drugs. They are victims of the people who are peddling drugs and causing untold hardship in every community. I recalled in this House previously that I listened to a mother who lost her son and husband. She outlined very clearly the role drugs played in their deaths. They were two young people. It is absolutely appalling. We also need more awareness campaigns, and not just for teenagers or young adults. Based on what I hear in weekly conversations, we need campaigns for every age group in the country. We are hearing daily of the prevalence of drugs in places we never thought they would be present. The Government has an obligation to provide safer communities for all and the one thing we hear about nowadays is that drugs are everywhere.

Sentiment score: 0.09

I thank the Minister of State and again welcome his emphasis on the need for intensified cross-Border co-operation because we know these evil criminals who are peddling drugs across borders. There should be no tolerance for people who are peddling drugs and passing around cannabis or a line of cocaine, whatever social stratum they come from. We have all listened to presentations where professionals working in this area outline the horrors inflicted on people through the use of drugs. We need to get that message out very clearly. I fully appreciate that we need to support people who unfortunately become addicted through different facets of their existence and of their lives. I have helped some of those people, alongside local support groups, in my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan and across the north east. We need to resource the advocacy groups who are working with parents and with victims of the use of drugs. I know people who have recovered who are in gainful employment today, rearing their families and contributing to society. Thankfully, we have those instances where people with adequate supports can recover. We want to ensure in all policies that we do not lose sight of the fact that people can recover with adequate supports. At the same time, we cannot lose sight of the fact that criminal gangs and the people I mentioned earlier who are peddling death and destruction in every community in our country must be dealt with through a severe criminal justice system.

Sentiment score: 0.05