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.