A Sinn Féin TD says "alarming" figures relating to the extent of the drugs problem in Cavan show a need for more investment in supports locally.
Pauline Tully tabled a Parliamentary Question to the Department of Justice recently, requesting figures on drug searches and conviction rates for the possession and the distribution of drugs in County Cavan during the period from 2019 to May 2020.
The Department of Justice provided figures on incidents surrounding arrests and convictions for drug use and sale or supply in the Cavan area over a 17 month period.
In total there were 300 incidents over this period.
The data shows that 40 arrests relating to the possession of drugs for sale or supply were made in that time while,while 260 incidents during the same time frame were recorded for the possession of drugs for personal use.
Of these 101 people had been convicted in the District Court areas of Cavan and Virginia for possession, with 9 brought forward for trial in the Circuit Court.
A further 16 people had been convicted for the supply and distribution of drugs by the District Court with 8 of those people brought forward to the Circuit Court.
Deputy Tully says that these combined 134 convictions in the 17 month period show the extent of the drug problem throughout the county.
And she has called for more support for disadvantaged communities, as well as for addicts, their families, and greater education in schools.
