Thousands of activists from local and regional community drugs initiatives marched on Government Buildings this afternoon to "put the drugs crisis back on the Government’s agenda."
Representatives from more than 50 community organisations combatting the drugs problem gathered at the Garden of Remembrance at 2 p.m. before marching through the city centre to Merrion Square.
There were representatives marching from dozens of Dublin-based groups as well as organisations from Cavan, Waterford, Kilkenny, Limerick, Bangor, Newry and Belfast.
They were joined by a number of politicians including Mr Sean Crowe (SF), Mr Finian McGrath (Ind), Mr Christy Burke (SF), Mr Joe Costello (Lab) and Mr Tony Gregory (Ind).
Ms Anna Quigley of Citywide, a Dublin-based organisation which is co-ordinating an ongoing drugs crisis campaign, told ireland.com"the purpose of the march is to demand the reinstatement of the drugs crisis as a priority for government."
The colourful procession passed noisily through the city to the sound of drums and cowbells, while activists shouted their demands through megaphones.
Mr Tony Gregory told ireland.comhe thought the large turnout "was representative of how widespread the drugs problem was in communities around the city and country."
"The Government has had the best opportunity in the last five years of wealth and prosperity to do something about this problem but has clearly failed," he said.
"We were told that heroin would never get out of Dublin inner city. Now it’s in Clare, Limerick, Athlone, Arklow, Portlaoise."
On arriving at Government Buildings several speakers addressed the crowd, which had been joined by Mr Pat Rabbitte TD.
Mr Rabbitte said the number of communities represented at the march was "indicative of how community action have moved on further than Government action." He told ireland.comhe thought "the work being done by local drugs task forces was tremendous."
"However," he said, "demands and needs have moved on. There is a need for resources to be provided to deprived areas. Many city areas have no youth facilities. This is the biggest issue. You really must query putting €800 million into the Bertie Bowl when there is so much need for investment in community facilities."
Mr Fergus McCabe of the National Drugs Strategy told the crowd that the community groups "had to take to the streets again" just as they had to in the 1980s, as drugs had again become "a major and fundamental issue."
"It is sad," he said, "that five or six years after making significant progress in communities all over the city and country that in the last few months the foot has been taken off the pedal, the eye off the ball."
Mr Finian McGrath demanded that the drugs issue be returned to "the top of the political agenda" and that a "clear definition of budgets for local and regional drugs tasks forces" be delivered by Government so that "the progress made over the past five years is built upon and developed."
Ms Susan Collins of Citywide said the organisation had requested a meeting with the Taoiseach but that the group was "still waiting to hear back."
In the meantime Citywide will continue with their campaign for more funding and facilities. "There’s no point in just having methadone clinics," said Ms Collins.
"We need youth centres, and community centres. And we need the clinics we have to open after five o’clock," she added.