More than 60 per cent of people living in selected parts of Dublin and Kildare believe that drugs are the biggest social problem in their area.
According to a new survey undertaken as part of a campaign aimed at tackling dealing in the area, 64 per cent of local people are concerned about the impact that drugs are having on the community.
Dial to Stop Drug Dealing and Threats, a freephone service which allows individuals to anonymously pass on information about suspected drug dealing in their community, was launched this morning. Information received by the service is passed on to the Garda to investigate.
The initiative is supported by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Eibhlin Byrne and a number of locally elected representatives including Joe Costello, Cyprian Brady, Tony Gregory, Christy Burke, Mary Lou MacDonald, Eoin Ryan and Gay Mitchell.
It is also backed by a number of organisations including Dublin City Business Siptu, Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochána, local Prison Services, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, Dublin Inner City Partnership and North Inner City Drugs Task Force.
In the initial phase, the campaign is covering Tallaght, Blanchardstown, Co Kildare (Celbridge, Naas, Athy and Newbridge), Dublin North East area (including Coolock, Donaghmede, Kilbarrack, Clarehall, Clonshaugh and Howth) and Dublin's North Inner City.
As many as 56 per cent of local people surveyed ahead of the launch of the new initiative said there 'very likely' or 'somewhat likely' to call a non-Garda confidential telephone number to give information on drug activity in their area.
Speaking at the launch in Dublin this morning, Labour TD Joe Costello said: "North Inner City Dial to Stop Drug Dealing and Threats is a completely safe and anonymous way for people to take a stand against drug dealing and related threats in their community.
"We already know that to date the Garda have received very good quality information from the Dial to Stop line, and as a result have made a substantial seizure and a number of arrests. This is proof that this campaign does work and I would urge anyone living in the north inner city with information on drug dealing in their community to get in touch."
The Dial to Stop Drug Dealing number is 1800-220220.
