Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien’s brother ‘clean and off streets’ 3 months after Dáil row

A Sinn Féin TD who became embroiled in a high-profile row in the Dáil after it emerged that his brother was a homeless heroin addict has revealed that his sibling is now clean.

Fri, 17 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

However, he added that hundreds of other users are still being let down by the State.

Cork North Central TD Jonathan O’Brien detailed the situation some three months after he told a Government TD to “shut your mouth” when it was put to him that if he was so concerned about State failures he should use his TD’s salary to take his brother in himself.

Mr O’Brien said that, since the exchange with Labour TD Eric Byrne in the Dáil in January, which he described as “ignorant and flippant”, his 35-year-old brother Martin has been off heroin “completely” and is no longer living on the street.

He said while his brother “obviously still has a battle ahead of him”, he is no longer living in drug-fuelled hostels as a “direct result of a number of telephone calls from landlords” after the Dáil row.

Mr O’Brien said the original outburst was “borne out of frustration” over a lack of attempts by the Government to take the issues of homelessness and drugs seriously. He said the reality is that hundreds of people in a similar position are still being failed by the State.

Mr O’Brien was speaking yesterday as Health Minister Leo Varadkar came under fire for suggestions that he is presiding over a drugs rehabilitation service that is at “breaking point”, with some counsellors being told to look after as many as 200 addicts at any one time.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Féin’s health spokesman, made the claims during a Dáil debate on health.

He warned Mr Varadkar that counsellors are dealing with “dangerously high” caseloads and that “this is the first Government in 21 years not to have a minister for drug abuse”.

Mr Ó Caoláin said that, since the 2011 general election, money ringfenced for tackling the issue of drug abuse has slumped by 37%. He claimed the recruitment embargo has prevented any new counsellors from being appointed for a year.

Mr Varadkar said he is giving the HSE “greater autonomy to manage its staffing levels within the overall pay framework” to help address staff gaps.

He said while some counsellors are responsible for up to 200 people at any one time, the average rate is 25 to 50, and added that €240m is already allocated to drug services every year.