Members of the Oireachtas Drugs Committee have expressed alarm at the “centralising” of control on drug policy in the draft National Drugs Strategy (NDS)There were also warnings of a “hollowing out” of the community sector. She was alarmed at the “centralising” of decision making from community groups working on the ground into the hierarchy of the HSE. She said community groups needed “autonomy” in how they worked and that “multi-annual” funding was necessary to plan services. She said community groups “weren’t really included” in the NDS consultation. Sinn Féin TD for Louth Ruairí Ó Murchú said his biggest concern was the “hollowing out” of the community sector.

Source: Irish Examiner February 13, 2026 15:00 UTC