Paul Murphy: Warns DRIVE Support Project Faces Funding Cut
Paul Murphy warned that funding for the DRIVE drug-related intimidation support project is ending, after a radio report detailing families terrorised by drug dealers. He praised the Whitechurch Addiction Support Project's work with 75 families and criticised the removal of local funding while the Government promotes the project nationally.
Immediate concern
There was a powerful piece on Morning Ireland describing drug-related intimidation where families are confronted by dealers claiming debts and threatening terror until money is paid. Witnesses described chronic stress, a constant knot in the stomach, fear when cars enter cul-de-sacs at night and gangsters turning up with crowbars attempting break-ins.
Local support praised
Paul Murphy highlighted the Whitechurch Addiction Support Project operating through DRIVE, noting that the project has supported 75 families in the last year. He said the local work has been excellent in engaging victims of drug-related intimidation and violence.
Funding cut
He reported that the DRIVE project's funding has been discontinued and that the work will end in the next month. He criticised the decision to take funding away from local projects despite national promotion of the scheme.
Consequences for families
Murphy stressed the immediate impact on families who have relied on the DRIVE support services and warned that the end of funding will remove a vital source of assistance for those facing intimidation and violence in their communities.
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There was a powerful piece on Morning Ireland this morning about drug-related intimidation where families are confronted by drug dealers who say your child owes me X amount of money and you now owe this money to me and I'm going to terrorise you until you give me the money. There was one woman speaking about how 50% of the time she feels a knot in her stomach as a result of stress. Another woman speaking about how every time a car comes down into her cul-de-sac at night time she thinks are they coming for me. Another case of these gangsters turning up at the door with crowbars trying to break in when she was there alone. This is the thing that happens across the city. It highlighted the work of the Whitechurch Addiction Support Project through DRIVE, drug-related intimidation and violence engagement. They have done excellent work supporting 75 families in the last year. But the kicker came at the end of the report where they said the funding for this DRIVE project is now over and this work will end in the next month. It seems incredible. When nationally the Government is promoting this project the funding has been taken away from local projects to assist families in dealing with this intimidation. Thank you.
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