Cavan Monaghan TD calls for 'focused action' on drugs

'Rural Ireland must not be left behind'.

Rural communities must not be overlooked in the national response to drug misuse and drug-related crimes. That’s according to Fianna Fáil’s Deputy Brendan Smith who is warning this week that the “drugs epidemic” is no longer confined to urban centres.

Speaking in the Dáil during Questions to the Minister for Justice, Deputy Smith added: “We are hearing daily of the prevalence of drugs in places we never thought they would be present. This crisis is not just happening in our cities, it’s in every village, every townland, every parish. Rural Ireland is not immune, and we must ensure it is not left behind in the fight against drug crime.”

Meanwhile, the local TD welcomed, what he described as, “the significant progress made by Government” in recent years on the matter. “The record €2.48 billion allocated to the Justice budget for 2025 - a 27% increase since 2020, shows real commitment to fighting the issue. The €36M in funding for youth justice services will support early interventions and community-based solutions.”

Deputy Smith went on to say that the recent passing out of 149 new gardaí from Templemore as well as the arrival of over 200 new trainees marks “welcome progress”. “Continued recruitment is vital in strengthening our frontline policing response,” he said before adding that the time had come “to build on this progress with a renewed focus on rural areas, delivering not just enforcement, but also prevention, education and recovery supports".

"This isn’t a challenge we can solve through policing alone. It requires a whole-of-government, multi-agency approach. That means resourcing health services, awareness campaigns, schools, local organisations and addiction support groups, particularly in rural areas where access can be limited,” concluded Deputy Smith.