Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

More than 60 per cent of people living in selected parts of Dublin and Kildare believe that drugs are the biggest social problem in their area.

According to a new survey undertaken as part of a campaign aimed at tackling dealing in the area, 64 per cent of local people are concerned about the impact that drugs are having on the community.

Dial to Stop Drug Dealing and Threats, a freephone service which allows individuals to anonymously pass on information about suspected drug dealing in their community, was launched this morning. Information received by the service is passed on to the Garda to investigate.

The initiative is supported by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Eibhlin Byrne and a number of locally elected representatives including Joe Costello, Cyprian Brady, Tony Gregory, Christy Burke, Mary Lou MacDonald, Eoin Ryan and Gay Mitchell.