Regeneration money should be used to keep drug dealer reporting line alive
One of the main points which John Fitzgerald wanted to drive home when he wrote his report was that before physical regeneration could take place, the crime and anti-social behaviour would have to be dealt with first.
His sentiments ring hollow though following the news that the government are to cut funding for the Dial to Report Drug Dealing Helpline.
The service was set up for people who wanted to report dealers in their area, but who, for whatever reason, did not want to deal with the Gardai directly. The idea was that people could call this number, and the volunteers at the the helpline would report it to Gardai for them, thus protecting their identity.
The phone line was initially set up as a pilot project in Blanchardstown, Dublin in 2006. According to their research, 67 percent of reports they received were of some help to Gardai in tackling drug dealing in the area.
The service was due to be rolled out accross the country this year, and Limerick was one of the areas to bennefit from this. However, Government funding for this has been cut.
It seems the strategy for the government to cut funding from projects which help people who are unable, unlike the over 70s, to protest in front of Leinster house.
In the last six months, funding was cut from the NCCRI, which helps the victims of racism, people who are in a strange land and wouldn’t even know where to begin to protest. Funding was also cut from the Equality Authority, which helps people who are too afraid to protest for fear their employers will use it as an excuse to sack them, and now this, cutting funding to a service which helps people to afraid to leave their homes to protest for fear of intimidation from drug pushers.
Contrast this with the news this week that Limerick Regeneration is to receive €28m in funding this year. Some of this money should be used to keep the Dial to Report Drug Dealing number alive. With a little help from the private sector the cost could be kept to a minimum. Regeneration could pay for the running costs of manning the helpline, while the likes of the Leader, Post, Limerick Independent, and local radio stations could run an awareness campaign. Bus Eireann could even through the number on the back of their busses to make people aware of it.
If you would like to know more about Dial to Stop Drug Dealing, you can visit their website.