Additional funding for national drug-related intimidation programme 

The Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement (Drive) project published its first data report last May, which showed that more than 40 children were known to have been subject to drug-related initimidation in the last two years — and that 13 of them were still in school. File picture 

The Department of Health has announced additional funding of €65,000 to the national programme to combat drug-related intimidation.

The money, which is on top of the annual funding of €280,000, is to go towards training, web development, and the holding of a national conference.

Separately, the department said it would be allocating €50,000 to the Health Research Board (HRB) to expand data collection on drug-related intimidation from more family support services, including family resource centres.

The Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement (Drive) project published its first data report last May, which showed that more than 40 children were known to have been subject to drug-related initimidation in the last two years — and that 13 of them were still in school.

The report, published with the HRB, recorded a total of over 1,000 cases in 2024 and 2025, with cases in every county.

It described the problem as both “pervasive” and under-reported due to fear of reprisals, proximity to intimidators, stigma and limited awareness of supports.

Intimidation typically ranged from threats to individuals and their families to acts of violence, and property damage.

Minister of state for public health, wellbeing and the national drugs strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, said the additional funding would “improve the monitoring of drug-related intimidation and violence”, and strengthen the capacity of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, An Garda Síochána and other agencies to respond effectively.

She said the €65,000 was in addition to recurring annual funding of €280,000 for the Drive project.

The additional funding is set to:

• Provide additional training to strengthen the skills and resources of local service providers and support the delivery of consistent services to people affected by DRI across the country;
• Enhance the DRIVE website and promote its work and increase awareness of the services and supports available locally to people;
• Hold a national conference to review progress with people from the community, voluntary and statutory sectors, as well as Department of Health and Government officials.

Separately, the Department of Health will provide an additional €50,000 to the HRB to strengthen its data collection on DRI and provide reports on trends and factors.

• Cormac O'Keefe is Security Correspondent.