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represent a direct assault on community safety, with residents, families and local businesses forced to live in fear in their own neighbourhoods; — drug-related intimidation extends far beyond those involved in drug use, with parents, grandparents, siblings and innocent family members frequently threatened and targeted over alleged drug … failure to ensure that every community affected by persistent drug-related criminality has the policing, public services and community supports necessary to confront it; and calls on the Government to: — launch a major crackdown on drug gangs and intimidation, providing dedicated Garda resources to identify, investigate and prosecute

hear about these crimes and act on them. Please trust An Garda Síochána to act on these crimes. We know that drug-related intimidation extends far beyond those directly involved in drug use. I have dealt with parents, grandparents, siblings and other innocent family members who have been … recognise that drug-related intimidation presents unique challenges. It inflicts profound harm on individuals and communities. Victims often feel isolated, frightened and unaware. The Government's national drugs strategy provides a comprehensive framework for tackling the harms associated with drug use, including drug-related intimidation and violence. Other

tackling the scourge of drug dealing and targeting organised crime groups who intimidate and inflict violence and misery on families. Drug-related intimidation is a pervasive issue that inflicts profound harm on individuals and families. I am conscious that such intimidation can be a terrifying experience for families … response to drug-related intimidation. It focuses on responding to incidents, supporting those affected and preventing future occurrences. There are also over 400 publicly-funded drug services, including family support services, across the country, which advise and support people affected by drug-related intimidation

public at large stating that we are united in terms of our ambition, commitment and dedication to ensure that we combat drug-related intimidation and violence. It is regrettably the case that drug-related intimidation and violence exist throughout our society. No particular section of society is safe … Deputy the State and An Garda Síochána are there to protect people. The only way that we can combat this scourge of drug-related intimidation is if An Garda Síochána combats it. To do that, and I know it is extremely difficult for families who are subject

very serious issue which can result in young people being drawn into criminality is the sale and supply of drugs, most specifically drug-related intimidation. To tackle this, An Garda Síochána has run Operation Fógra since 2020. This operation was established in the Dublin metropolitan region to enhance … understanding of and support An Garda Síochána’s response to incidents of drug-related intimidation in the Dublin metropolitan region. The operation has two pillars - a harm-reduction, victim-centred approach and information-enabled policing, informing operational responses. The objectives of Operation Fógra are to increase front-line

That is probably part of the issue. I have raised drug-related intimidation with the Minister on numerous occasions. I am not sure, in terms of this particular project, if it availed of the community safety fund. I suspect it did, which is why that is not being … something new that has not been funded previously. Therefore, it would not be eligible. I am also very conscious of drug-related intimidation being seen as something that is a scourge on communities the length and breadth of Ireland, but tackling it is not particularly well funded

drug crime groups heap on society, not least in Deputy McCormack's local community over this past weekend. Tackling the issue of drug-related intimidation is a high priority for An Garda Síochána. Nominated Garda inspectors are available throughout the country through the drug-related intimidation reporting programme … established effective systems for assisting those affected by drug-related intimidation. There are over 400 publicly-funded drugs services, including family support services, across the country which can advise and support people affected by drug-related intimidation. Family support services are critical because drug-related violence nearly always

seen in our lifetime. This directive does not counter that but nor have I seen anything from the Government that does so. Drug-related intimidation is no longer happening only in inner-city communities. It is a nationwide problem. Rural and farm-based communities are experiencing … drug-related intimidation and violence engagement, DRIVE, programme is funded to the tune of some €240,000 each year. The level of drug-related intimidation far exceeds what that funding could possibly do. We have a multitude of disparate but better organised gangs emerging every single week

Clondalkin opened her door to be smeared with petrol and set on fire also. There have been 2,500 incidents of drug-related intimidation since 2001. Of these, over 150 were … arson attacks linked to drug-related intimidation. Arson attacks connected to drug crime rose sharply, from just 13 in 2022 to about 50 last year. Despite more arrests, only 4% of cases have led to prosecutions. Recorded incidence of drug-related intimidation overall has increased by roughly

into it and there is an ask for more money in respect of it. I am very conscious of the impact that drug-related intimidation and violence has on communities. It is important that those communities know they have the support of the State in combating that level … them to be. If, however, there are support groups in place that can provide relief and support to individuals who are suffering drug-related intimidation, that can strengthen them. The Garda take this matter extremely seriously as well, as the Deputy knows. Anyone who is subjected to drug

thank Deputy McGreehan for raising this issue. She is correct in stating that drug-related intimidation is a scourge on our society. As the instances of drug taking increase, there is regrettably more drug … intimidation. The model behind drug dealing is generation of profits for drug dealers. As a society, we all need to recognise that and people need to understand when they start experimenting with drugs that the consequence of it is that they can expose themselves to this drug-related

after his Department - the Department of justice. It was not the Garda, for example, that failed to facilitate a parliamentary discussion on drug-related intimidation, which we have been asking for since early December. It was the Government and Chief Whip, who was present today, that … deal with these incidents. It is also hard to take the Government seriously when it tells me that it is tackling drug-related and gang-related intimidation and violence when we see that only 4% of cases have led to prosecutions. That is only 4% of cases

there is no reference to the drug related intimidation and violence engagement, DRIVE, project. This is an interagency project to respond to drug-related intimidation. This programme is rolled out in different task forces across the country. In Whitechurch in my constituency, the Whitechurch addiction support project, which … people in this situation many times. Because of DRIVE, the project was able to hire a dedicated worker for families experiencing drug-related intimidation. It managed to get two-year funding for this from the community safety innovation fund. That funding has now ceased and the project does

Minister about the drug-related intimidation and violence engagement, DRIVE, programme, which is funded by her Department. We all recognise that drug-related intimidation is endemic the length and breadth of Ireland at the moment. We have seen the horrors of that in its full force last week

common law legal system. Another huge issue that is very important to me as a representative for Dublin South-Central relates to drug-related intimidation. The Department of justice on the DRIVE oversight board is hugely supportive of this programme to tackle drug-related intimidation at community level

Every community deserves to feel safe, secure and protected. Alongside effective services, policing also plays a role in the fight against drug-related intimidation. While not the only part of the solution, it is a basic foundation of our communities that they be serviced by effective and visible … families all the time who are facing serious dangerous intimidation in their homes and local authorities and approved housing bodies have been dragging their feet in arranging housing transfers for these people. Tackling drugs and drug-related intimidation is not confined to one Department, one agency

this horrendous attack. Our shared anger, shock and grief must mean that we in this Dáil do something about the scourge of drug-related intimidation happening in all our communities. They say there is not a county that is not impacted by drug intimidation, but I would … runs far deeper than that. There is not a community that is not impacted by drug-related intimidation. For some, it is felt and seen by their community and neighbours but many others are suffering in silence and alone. This evening, while we discuss this motion, there

living through a third generation of trauma caused by addiction and violence. The recent allocation of an extra €65,000 for the drug-related intimidation and violence engagement programme is simply not enough. DRIVE is doing great work but communities are struggling with violence and drug-related intimidation

should feel abandoned and no parent should feel they have nowhere to turn. She said that anyone who becomes the target of drug-related intimidation should report it to An Garda Síochána. I echo the call that people should come forward to An Garda Síochána and report … crime, including, of course, drug-related intimidation. However, the problem is that families feel abandoned and that is because of fear. Even when families come forward to the Garda, that fear is heightened because they feel they may be targeted. The Minister of State said no parent should

Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason funding for the drug-related intimidation liaison role at the western area support project will not be renewed; and the specific alternative supports that will be in its place to ensure victims and families … facing organised crime drug-related intimidation will continue to receive equivalent specialist assistance without interruption. [6122/26

Minister the reason that funding for the drug-related intimidation liaison role at the Whitechurch addiction service was not renewed this year; and the specific alternative supports that will be in its place to ensure victims and families facing organised crime and drug-related intimidation will continue

going to the people who are hardest hit and most pressed to the bone. I represent communities that have been destroyed by drug-related intimidation. It was referenced in the High Court this week that children are being indoctrinated into crime. I thought it would have been taken … seriously. It is destroying not just a community like Dublin Central, but it is happening in rural Ireland. Last year, the drug-related intimidation programme this Government initiated received €320,000. I am sure this year's figure will be announced in the next couple of days

have rolled out training developed by the European Union Drugs Agency and effective approaches to drug prevention to over 50 people. Drug-related intimidation is a serious and insidious issue impacting individuals, families and communities nationwide. It is a complex problem that manifests differently across regions, often leaving … State for the national drugs strategy and the Minister for justice launched a major awareness campaign to reduce the stigma surrounding drug-related intimidation and violence by promoting the range of supports available to those affected. The DRIVE project, which is supported by the Departments of Health

Drug-related intimidation is one of the most cruel and controlling crimes operating in all our communities. It does not just target the person with an addiction. It terrorises families. Parents and children are being threatened, coerced and forced into constant fears. We have heard victims say that … with An Garda and national response agencies, yet it does so with insecure and limited funding. If we are serious about tackling drug-related intimidation, we must fund the services that families trust. I am asking for sustainable, ring-fenced funding for FASN in Dundalk and other similar

available for people. The DRIVE programme brings together law enforcement, health services, social services and community organisations specifically to try to address drug-related intimidation through a co-ordinated and, importantly, a victim-centred approach. These are victims we are talking about. Importantly, she also outlined that … forms of drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs. A clear focus and priority of this work is to tackle drug-related intimidation. This is a priority for An Garda Síochána and it is really important that where people find themselves in this situation that they come

Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason funding for the drug-related intimidation liaison role at the western area support project will not be renewed; and the specific alternative supports that will be in its place to ensure victims and families … facing organised crime drug-related intimidation will continue to receive equivalent specialist assistance without interruption. [6122/26

complaints last year including over 100 classified as serious cases; whether he accepts that many communities feel abandoned in the face of intimidation, drug-related activity, and persistent disorder; and the urgent measures he will now take alongside An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council to restore safety

Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware that there is currently no specific offence for drug-related intimidation. [6189/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of full-time Gardaí with drug-related intimidation training, by district in Cork. [4102/26

which his Department is working with the Department of Health and other agencies through the DRIVE project to support families experiencing drug-related intimidation; if additional funding will be provided to expand this model nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53466/25

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of drug-related intimidation and violence engagement leads per local drug and alcohol taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38006/25

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the €300,000 referenced as being for "response to drug-related violence and intimidation" in the Budget 2027 Factsheet National Drugs Strategy and Inclusion Health will include funding for the DRIVE project. [73496/26

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of cases referred by An Garda Síochána to the Criminal Assets Bureau arising from drug-related debt enforcement and intimidation in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the plans his Department has this year to deal with the scourge of drugs and drug-related crime, including drug debt intimidation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6076/26