Dublin 15 Labour Party Councillor Patrick Nulty has ‘sharply criticised’ lengthy delays for drug treatment and support programmes across West Dublin who have yet to receive their funding for the second half of the year.
 
The local councillor who also serves on the board of the Blanchardstown Local Drugs Taskforce has said that projects were “expecting the funding weeks ago and may now have to use overdrafts and other facilities to keep going unless the funding which was already committed back in December does not come through soon”.
 
“i have personally written to Minister Shorthall on this issue and while I recognise some teething problems might exist as responsibility for implementation of the national drugs strategy has changed departments such lengthydelays are not good enough and a source of genuine anxiety for professionals working in the drug treatment field”.
 
“I know the valuable and important work done by drug treatment services and community drug teams. Clarity and consistancy of funding is vital in providing these services. Investment in prevention and treatment is not only socially progressive it also makes sense for the state coffers as by working with people who want help you can divert people away from crime and imprisonment which has far greater social and financial cost in the long run”.