Drugs surge leads to rural resettlement call

A KERRY TD has called for tighter scrutiny of applicants for rural resettlement because of a growing drugs problem countrywide.

Fine Gael TD Tom Sheahan said that many of the people who had been relocated from large urban centres such as Cork and Limerick to rural parts of Kerry were decent and law-abiding citizens. But recently-published statistics were leading concerned communities to ask if some resettled individuals were bringing with them some of the drug problems that have long been a feature of inner-city life, particularly in Dublin.

“The authorities involved in the resettlement programmes need to be asked if they take into consideration any previous convictions for drug-related crimes, prior to finalising the applications,” Mr Sheahan said.

“Questions need to be asked about how local authorities are implementing various policies relating to the resettlement of people from urban to rural areas.”

He described as “startling” recently published figures which revealed the huge surge in the heroin problem in Kerry.

During the five-year period from 2002 there was considerable jump in the level of heroin-related prosecutions, with 19 prosecutions in 2007 compared with one heroin-related prosecution in 2002.

The number of heroin users seeking assistance to deal with their addiction in the southern part of the country has increased by 240% – up from 21 to 71 in 2008, according to the Health Research Board.

Mr Sheahan urged people in the east Kerry area, who may have concerns or questions about drug-related issues, to attend a drugs information evening this Thursday, at 8pm, in Teach Íosagáin, Rathmore.

Gardaí in Kerry, meanwhile, said they were continuing their crackdown on the drugs trade. They have stepped up drugs-related surveillance and investigation in the county and there has been an increase in the number of cases, especially heroin dealing, coming before Circuit Criminal Court sittings in Tralee.

Cannabis seizures in the county in the past year are estimated to have reached a street value of €1m, and a number of people have been brought before the courts.