Ireland playing catch-up in war on drugs

Ireland’s drugs problems should have been tackled 20 years ago, according to the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Noel Ahern.

The minister’s comments follow his announcement last Thursday that the government will be spending a further €2.79 million in a continued effort to tackle drug abuse.

Ahern said the country’s drug problems were rooted in the unemployment and social disadvantage of the 1970s and 1980s.

‘‘Much ...