Community groups slam Govt on drugs record

Dublin community groups have slammed the Government for failing to tackle the city's drug problem.

A number of groups are due to hold a meeting in Mountjoy Square this afternoon to highlight what they say is the "lack of political will" to deal with the problem.

A spokeswoman for Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign said: "The drug crisis is no longer seen as a political priority".

She claimed: "Implementation of task force plans to tackle the drugs issue is being blocked at senior department level.

"Funding for task force initiatives is no longer ring-fenced, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund has effectively been dismantled," she said.

"The health boards have no funds to implement a whole raft of recommendations on treatment and aftercare contained in the National Drugs Strategy document," she added.

She said: "It is a tragedy that in the year 2003 communities have no option but to highlight again how bad things are on the ground in relation to the drugs issue, in order to put pressure on the Government to reinstate the drug crisis as a political party."

Meanwhile Fine Gael councillor Ms Frances Fitzgerald today highlighted the increasing number of drug and alcohol abuse offences in Dublin's city parks.

Ms Fitzgerald said she was shocked to learn that a staggering 4,419 offences occur each year in the city's parks - approximately 12 each day.

"The 288 incidents of drug abuse recorded in our city's parks in 2002 reflect the serious drugs problem in Dublin," she said.

Ms Fitzgerald said: "Dublin City Council is not getting enough support — there is clearly a serious law and order problem in certain parks, and this is another example of how ineffective the Minister for Justice is."

Park wardens should not feel threatened during the course of their daily work, nor should residents of Dublin feel afraid to avail of some of the city's public amenities. This problem needs to be addressed immediately," she said.