Kildare TD Says Families Living With "Threats, Fear and Violence" Because Of Drug-Related Intimidation

It follows an arson attack in Waterford earlier this month

Sinn Féin has brought forward a motion for a crackdown on drug debt intimidation across the country.

It follows an arson attack in Waterford earlier this month which claimed the lives of four members of the same family.

The Government will also be supporting the motion.

During the Dáil this week, Kildare South TD Shona Ní Raghallaigh spoke of families in her constituency who are "all living with threats, fear and violence".

She also highlighted that there were 32 incidents of drug debt intimidation reported in Kildare over a two-year period, according to newly released figures.

While reffering to data from the DRIVE (Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement) Project, the Deputy said more than 1,000 cases of drug-related intimidation were recorded nationwide, with only one in 10 cases were reported to An Garda Síochána.

Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, revealed that there had been 32 incidents of drug debt intimidation reported in Kildare between 2024 and 2025, describing the figure as only a fraction of the actual number of cases, due to underreporting.

"They have been left to fight this battle themselves. If we are to get serious about tackling drugs, we must be clear that drug use and addiction are first and foremost issues of healthcare.

"If we do not have serious, robust community supports and interventions, then we are abandoning some of our most vulnerable. The link between the communities most affected by austerity and communities suffering the most from drugs is clear for all to see."

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh added that policing is an important factor in "the fight against drug-related intimidation", while also expressing disappointment at the net loss in Gardaí in Kildare South this year.

"I am sure the Government would share my disappointment that Kildare South has experienced a net loss of gardaí this year when we take into account resignations and retirements.

"Our local authorities have a role to play here. I meet with individuals and families all the time who are facing serious dangerous intimidation in their homes and local authorities and approved housing bodies have been dragging their feet in arranging housing transfers for these people.

"Tackling drugs and drug-related intimidation is not confined to one Department, one agency or one body. Every Government Department, from housing to health to justice and beyond, has a role to play here.

The heart of this motion is simple. Communities deserve to feel safe, protected and free from intimidation. This is the very bedrock of our society but in order for us to achieve and protect this, we need to ensure our communities are serviced by sustained effective supports and interventions and this needs to be in conjunction with community-backed, properly staffed policing," she concluded.