ADDICTION SUPPORTS VITAL

Increased garda resources should be matched by increased addiction supports, a meeting of service managers and frontline addiction services from across the North East heard last week

The meeting was held in Leinster House, hosted by Louth TD Fergus O’Dowd, and was also attended by a cross party of political representatives from the region

Speaking after the meeting, the Louth Deputy said: ‘ The services collectively put a very comprehensive and detailed presentation forward and a very productive discussion followed. There was an agreement on a cross party basis to request a meeting with both the Minister of State with Responsibility for the Drugs Strategy, Catherine Byrne TD, and Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD.

‘Following the meeting I raised the issues directly with Minister Catherine Byrne on the Dail floor (transcript attached) and I spoke on the disparity between the resources that have been allocated to the Gardai in Drogheda and the unparalleled allocation to local drug services working on the ground in light of the ongoing drug feud.’

Minister Byrne has agreed to meet the cross party grouping along with the services to progress the matter and I hope to provide an update at that point.’

Dundalk Councillor, Ruairí Ó Murchú, who was also at the meeting said that the Minister for Health ‘must intervene to support community groups working with people in addiction in Louth.’

Councillor Ó Murchú said: ‘ The reality is that the groups who attended the Dáil are all experiencing severe funding shortfalls.’

‘Across the North East Region which encompasses Louth, Monaghan, Cavan and Meath, some groups are facing imminent closure unless the funding model is changed.’

He added: ‘ They have no continuity of funding and are required to bid to the HSE annually. Typically, if they receive funding, it is allocated the same rate as the previous year which takes no account of the rising number of service users, rising rental and overhead costs and inflation.’

He said that financially the groups are ‘running to stand still by fundraising ever greater amounts and relying on the goodwill of volunteers.’

In Dundalk and other areas we are in an emergency regarding the level of drugs usage. This requires urgent government action.

Louth groups ‘ The Red Door Project’,the Family Addiction Support Network, Turas and the Community Addiction Studies Course also attended the meeting .

‘ These groups also reported that the level of participation by statutory agencies such as the HSE, Gardaí and Department of Education is reducing. They feel they are being disempowered in the decision making process.’

The Louth Councillor added: ‘ This must be addressed because the state agencies need the local knowledge that only those working at the coal face can provide.’

He said that at the closure of the briefing, a meeting with the Minister for Health and the Minister of State for Drugs will be requested ‘and the Justice Committee will be making this issue a priority in the new year.’