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Campaign to tackle drug dealing extended

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

MINISTER for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey is to extend the hugely successful Dial to Stop Drug Dealing campaign. The programme is a confidential phone line which concerned residents can use to report suspected drug dealing. Minister Carey, who has responsibility for implementing the National Drugs Strategy, said: “Since I launched the scheme in the Finglas area in May 2009, it has been a major success for the gardaí. “The benefits of Dial to Stop Drug Dealing are manifold.  “Since the campaign has been in operation nationally, well over 6,000 calls have been made to the line, resulting in over 1,800 reports to the gardai.  “In addition to this obvious benefit, the campaign has given communities and individuals a sense of empowerment and a feeling that they can make a difference and help stop the spread of drug misuse in their communities.” Minister Carey said he hopes to be a position to extend the phone line and provide additional funding for promotional materials in the coming weeks with a view to maximising the impact of the campaign. Artane Whitehall ward councillor Larry O’Toole (SF) welcomed the announcement and called for the scheme to be placed on a permanent footing. “I am also calling on members of the public to continue using the freephone number and to raise awareness of the scheme by advertising the number on social networking sites and any other means available,” said Cllr O’Toole.   “The Dial to Stop Drug Dealing freephone number has been a highly successful initiative, which Sinn Féin has long campaigned for.”