Stricter controls to help gardaí in tackling street dealing of prescription drugs are to be fast-tracked and brought before the Dáil in the coming weeks.

President Michael D Higgins praised an arts project for drug users, saying it empowers people to explore “positive aspects” of themselves, to defeat the “negative”.

The homelessness crisis has reached “unprecedented” levels and will only worsen as the winter approaches, the largest homelessness and drug agency in the country has warned.

The supply of drugs into prisons “seriously undermines” the ability of inmates to kick the habit, the country’s largest voluntary drug and homeless organisation has said.

A nationwide surge in the abuse of benzodiazepines and cannabis — and the spread of heroin outside Dublin — has driven drug treatment figures upwards over the last five years.

Homelessness and rough sleeping has become acceptable in Ireland, a leading charity has claimed.

One organisation provided more than 85,000 meals to homeless people in Dublin last year - an increase of 11% on 2012.

The country’s largest voluntary homeless and drugs agency is witnessing ever greater numbers of distressed people coming into its soup kitchens and drugs services.

Drug-related deaths would fall and public injecting would decrease if consumption rooms were set up, two national groups have said.

Children have a “very bleak future” if the Government is unable to take on the vested interests in the alcohol and sports industries, the country’s largest representative body of community drug projects has said.

A new report shows an increase in the growth of drug use outside of Dublin.

The use of heroin outside Dublin continues to grow with the spread of the drug putting even more pressure on existing services, according to figures published by Merchants Quay Ireland.

Three quarters of Dublin’s heroin addicts are also hooked on other drugs, a study has found.

Three quarters of Dublin’s heroin addicts are also hooked on other drugs, astudy found.

A Dublin centre offering both homeless and drug treatment services is already at full capacity and fears it may have to curtail services if its funding is cut in the budget.

As Taoiseach Enda Kenny today formally opened a new centre for homeless people today, its chief executive warned there has been a huge increase in demand in recent months.

Recreational drug users need to become more aware of the dangers of mixing cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines with alcohol, according to some of the country’s drug experts.

A leading homeless charity says needle exchange programmes in Dublin alone attract about 10 new clients every week.

A leading homeless and drugs charity provided 73,000 meals to people last year, a rise of 9,000 on 2010, as the “devastating effects” of the recession deepens.

Senior drug workers have praised gardaí in seizing 15kg of heroin in the largest haul of the drug in almost four years.

The EU drugs agency has published a report backing the controversial provision of heroin to chronic addicts.

Heroin use in Dublin soared last year despite a drought in the drug for almost four months, it has been revealed.

CHARITIES who deal with homelessness are reporting a surge in demand for their services and have warned of a “demand tsunami” this winter.

NEARLY 600 new heroin injectors presented themselves to one of the country’s largest drug and homeless charities last year.

ALLEGATIONS of garda “harassment and brutality” against young people have been made by a community organisation at an Oireachtas committee.

POLICING the booming heroin trade is likely to become more difficult across Europe, a top UN report has warned.

THE seizure of 12.5kg of heroin — the biggest haul of the drug in four years — will have an impact on the streets, drug groups said yesterday.

PAUL NEWMAN’S charitable legacy has yet again benefited Ireland with a €25,000 cheque to fund much-needed medical detox beds for drug addicts.

NEARLY 9,200 heroin addicts are currently in receipt of methadone, according to the HSE.

A DRUG rehabilitation expert has slammed the Health Service Executive (HSE) for only providing 30 detox beds while there are as many as 20,000 heroin addicts nationwide.

USERS of a commonly prescribed drug to treat anxiety and depression have been warned of its addictive and potentially fatal effects after a report revealed soaring misuse rates and identified it as a factor in 31% of all drug-related deaths.

COCAINE use has risen in recent weeks due to a chronic shortage of heroin, drug treatment services have said.

MORE than 130 people are using a new homeless service in Dublin city centre amid fears of more people sleeping rough.

RED warning lights should be attached to a report highlighting the spread of heroin across the country, former prison governor John Lonergan has said.

THE number of heroin users in Dublin continues to grow – with an extra 642 new drug-injectors seeking help last year from one of the country’s leading charities working with drug users.

A Limerick rugby player who was shot dead two years ago in a case of mistaken identity will be remembered tonight with a range of sporting events in his native city.

COMMUNITY drug workers have welcomed the international operation against the Christy Kinahan drugs syndicate.

SUNDERLAND AFC chairman Niall Quinn is bringing his premiership side to play at Thomond Park for the first major venture by a trust, set up to honour murder victim Garryowen rugby captain, Shane Geoghegan.

AN ambitious initiative was launched in Limerick yesterday to keep children out of trouble through sports in memory of murdered Limerick rugby captain Shane Geoghegan.

In its annual report issued yesterday, Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) stated that serious problems relating to heroin use are no longer confined to cities but are now prevalent in regional towns. The heroin problem has become a national crisis.

THE funding of a Government-led drug programme by a charity operating in developing countries raises serious questions about future drug funding, a leading voluntary drug service has said.

One of Ireland's leading drug addiction centres registered 20 new heroin users every week last year, it was revealed today.

THE scourge of heroin is now a “national crisis” the country’s largest voluntary drug service has said.

IRISH heroin traffickers are to be hit hard by a major crackdown by Dutch police.