Limerick TD, Maurice Quinlivan, stated that it is farcical that next year’s budget for Task Forces has not yet been agreed and this failure could have deadly consequences.
The Sinn Féin Deputy said that the crisis facing communities across Ireland from the illicit drug trade unfortunately manifests itself in many parts of Limerick.
“There is open drug dealing, the use of children as drug mules and couriers, an increase in intimidation due to alleged drug debts, increases in certain crime, increased personal debts, and enormous pressure is being put on our health services which is creaking.
“The Midwest Regional Drug and Alcohol forum has suffered massive cuts since 2008 most of which haven’t been restored. It is in an impossible position of having the onerous responsibility for the roll out of the Government drug strategy without the resources needed.
“Alcohol is another challenge that has been grafted on to its workload, yet no extra resources or funding has been granted in recent years. The Government is clearly out of touch with the crisis that is happening in our communities.
“We are now in the middle of December and Drugs Task Forces like the forum in the Mid-West Region are still waiting on Government approval for next year’s budget. It is a farcical approach and could have deadly consequences.”
He continued, “This financial logjam is directly impacting on those employed by Midwest Regional Drug and Alcohol forum and other Community Projects across Limerick dealing with addiction and their affects. They don’t know whether or what level of funding will be available for 2018 to keep them open and ensure they can deliver their vital services. It also makes it nearly impossible to plan a coherent response to the drug epidemic and the various new challenges it places on communities when they have no real idea what their funding will be.
“The Minister of State for Health Promotion, Catherine Byrne, who should be championing additional funding and resources to help fight this crisis has remained silent. She is clearly out of touch and out her depth when it comes to the unique challenges facing families and communities from the growing poisonous illicit drug trade,” Deputy Quinlivan concluded.
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