Drug addicts waiting months for place in detox units due to lack of space

A spokeswoman for Merchants Quay Ireland said there had been a big demand for the residential detox service at St Francis’s Farm in Tullow but not enough spaces were available across the country.

Just under a fifth of referrals made this year to a detox unit operated by Merchants Quay Ireland have been able to secure a place in the facility.

To date, there have been 223 referrals received for the residential unit in Carlow. However, just 42 have so far been treated at the unit.