Crack cocaine: Drugs task forces 'firefighting' due to lack of funds

Minister's press release contains 'no new information' and does not commit additional funding to tackle the crisis

'The two projects are firefighting. They are being inundated and working on the shoestring of €25,000 each,' said Grace Hill (right), Tallaght Drug & Alcohol Task Force co-ordinator. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan

A drugs task force which has highlighted a crack cocaine “emergency” in its area has said that none of additional funding it requested from the Government has been provided.

It follows a press release from drugs strategy minister Frank Feighan detailing the funding being allocated to two projects providing crack cocaine programmes in Tallaght, south Dublin.