Drugs Treatment Court programme to be expanded

The Drugs Treatment Court, which places an emphasis on tackling an offender's addiction problems, is to be expanded on a staged basis across Dublin.

Judge Bridget Reilly, who sits on the Drugs Treatment Court, said plans were at an advanced stage for the court to be made available for referrals from all courts in the Dublin metropolitan area.

Clients who appear before the court are dealt with in stages: following stabilisation, they progress on to rehabilitation with the eventual goal of entering employment or education. If they complete and "graduate" from the programme set by the court, the charges against them are struck out.

The court celebrated the graduation of two clients yesterday at a ceremony which included comedian Des Bishop.

The total number of graduates from the court has now reached 13 out of a total of 219 referrals. Some 74 have dropped out of the programme.

Judge Reilly yesterday accepted that the overall number of graduates was low, but said the programme was difficult and had changed the lives of many people, including those who had not completed it.

"We're only part of the answer to dealing with this issue. We're looking at ways of increasing the numbers that are referred to the Drugs Treatment Court," she said.

"The programme is not suitable for everyone. It is a tough and difficult set of tasks and self-examination over a long period of time. For those who do continue and graduate from the programme it is a very rewarding experience."

The drugs court uses a multi-disciplinary approach to help those who appear before it to deal with their criminal behaviour.