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3rd March 2015 • Volume 22, Issue 07 Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Mairéad Curran from River Valley, Swords married Donough Regan at St Finian's Church, River Valley on Saturday, 21st February. The happy couple are pictured getting ready to leave for their reception at Finnstown House, Lucan
TWO DEVASTATING BLOWS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION By Patrick Finnegan
Garda Drug Unit Halved Stretched Community Care Services The crisis which is being experienced by North Dublin Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force, based in Swords, has been exacerbated by news that there are now only 16 gardaí attached to the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North divisional drug units. This represents a 50 per cent reduction on the figure of 32 gardai in 2011. The Dublin Metropolitan Region (North Division) covers the Ballymun, Coolock and Balbriggan Garda Districts. All garda stations in the North County, including Malahide, Lusk and Swords are attached to this division. This news drew an angry response from Chairperson of North Dublin Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force, Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF), who told the County Leader, “One of the most important elements in the fight against drugs, is to cut off the supply into our communities. You can’t do that if you’re systematically taking gardaí away from tackling the problem. Under Fine Gael and Labour’s time in Government, there has been a consistent pattern of cuts to frontline services. Community policing and tackling drug crime have simply not been priorities for this government. This dramatic reduction is totally unacceptable,” he said. “Unfortunately
the North County area has one of the highest levels of drug misuse in the country. This government is hampering the ability of frontline gardaí to do their jobs in stopping the flow of drugs into our communities, but it is also tying the hands of drug task forces, by under-resourcing them in a serious way.” O’Brien continued, “One of the major problems in the fight against drugs and drug crime is the lack of a dedicated Minister for this area. This was a policy area Fianna Fáil put significant work and emphasis into over many years. By having a dedicated Minister for Drugs, we were able to make significant progress which, unfortunately has not been continued by this government.” “As Chair of the North Dublin Regional Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce, I see first-hand the failure to properly resource prevention, policing and cure. We are the worst resourced regional drugs taskforce in the country facing an uphill battle in the fight against drugs and we are losing this fight,” concluded O’Brien.
In a strongly worded statement, the chair of North “The acquisition of these two Dublin Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force, case workers would make such a senator Darragh O’Brien (FF), has called for equity of difference.” resources for families in crisis in the area. - Senator Darragh O’Brien He told the County Leader, “We opened the North Dublin Community Care Service in Swords in June last has been in existence. “Nearly 250 year to support children, individuals and families individuals and families have trying to cope with the stress of alcohol and accessed the service in the six drug use. This was the first service of its type months it has been open. With such a small team of in this area, so we knew there would be a practitioners, this means we are now operating a huge demand,” he said. waiting list. We have lodged an application to the This area is completely under resourced HSE for two case workers last year, but still have not compared to other Drug and Alcohol received a decision. The acquisition of these two case Task Force areas, and is the most underworkers would make such a difference,” said O’Brien. resourced one of it’s kind in the entire Continued on page 17 country, according to O’Brien. “It is simply unjust that residents of North County Dublin don’t have the same access to supports as people who live in other areas. Other areas like the North City and West Dublin, or our counterparts on the southside of Dublin, have a range of HSE funded community based services, in addition to the services funded by their respective task forces. There has been little or no investment in this area at all until the new Community Care Service wqas opened , which a huge number of people from the area have already NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR benefited from.” O’Brien went on to stress the impact the CONFIRMATIONS & COMMUNIONS service has had on the local community in the short time it
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Malahide Man Recognised As National Transport Ambassador
Michael Leahy is pictured with his mother, Rene with the award which he won, in the room at his home in Malahide, which houses his vast collections of transport models, including trains, buses and airplanes
A 28 year old Malahide man has been recognised as Ireland’s best ‘Public Transport Ambassador,’ having being nominated by his mother. Towards the end of last year, the National Transport Authority (NTA) held the inaugural Transport for Ireland People’s Awards, which are designed to celebrate and reward the superstars of buses, trams, trains, taxis, walking and cycling. Michael Leahy, who is the eldest of four boys and a girl, attends Prosper Fingal Day Service in Swords, an umbrella group for people with intellectual disabilities. He has a lifelong passion for all things related to transport, and was recognised as Ireland’s ‘Public Transport Ambassador. His mother, Rene told the County Leader about her reason for nominating her son. “Michael has had a passion for transport from a very young age and I thought he would fit the profile. His interest started with Thomas the Tank Engine, Fireman Sam, and this interest in transport continues to this day. He has the brio wooden train collection and we also visited Legoland, where he loved the trains there. Every year, his father, Eamonn brings him to York, to visit one of the largest train museums in Europe, as
well as to Cooltra near Belfast, where there’s a large transport museum. Such is Michael’s passion for all things transport, that he has a room at home converted to accommodate his amazing collection of model trains, buses and aeroplanes. He is very proud of this collection of transport memorabilia, which was lovingly collected over the years. Every day, weather permitting, Michael walks from home in Malahide to his Day Centre in Swords. Here he has won competitions for his artwork, which naturally enough, are all transport related. Michael said that he was very proud and delighted to have been chosen for this award and would love to have his own rail company someday. Rene continued, “Michael tries to persuade us all to change to public transport. He goes on two train trips a year with his dad. Recently, with the help of Prosper Fingal, he set up a walking group. He also spearheaded a DVD on the Hill of Howth tram, where he interviewed people working in the transport museum. Michael said that he hopes to see this tram service being restored some day. Rene jokes that when she Continued on page 17
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