Laois Minister says drug dealers waiting outside secondary schools

A Laois Minister has said drug dealers are waiting outside schools to sell drugs to secondary students.  

Minister of State Sean Fleming urged Gardai to give drug awareness talks annually in Laois secondary schools.  

He made the suggestion at the latest Laois Joint Policing Committee meeting. 

Minister Fleming applauded Gardai for attending local primary schools to educate children on crime and drugs. He expressed his belief that it should be policy to visit secondary schools. 

“Minimum once a year I think gardai should be in and I think concentrating on drugs because of the teenagers that are in schools,” said Minister Fleming. 

“We know outside some of the schools there are people waiting when people come out to sell drugs to some of the older students,” said Minister Fleming.  

“I would really ask you if you can formally arrange with the schools, especially the second  level schools, a minimum of one or maybe more visits per annum because I think it is important at second level even more so than primary level,” he said. 

Garda Superintendent Eamon Curley said he would take on board the Minister’s comments. 

“Our schools’ programme are a very big part of what our Community Policing Unit delivers. Sergeant Jason Hughes leads the challenge on that,” said Supt Curley.  

“I know you referenced drug dealers outside the schools selling to children leaving schools. Certainly it is not something I have seen. I would ask anybody who has any information in that regard to contact us. Our drug units certainly conduct many intelligence led operations and it is something that we can expand into that area,” he said.   

Former Garda Tom Jones described a new drug awareness programme called HEED as a fantastic initiative.  He said it was to be rolled out to GAA clubs in Laois. 

Supt Curley said the HEED programme will be initially rolled out with the GAA and is planned to be rolled out to other sporting organisations and groups after that. He said the programme was being rolled out in conjunction with the Midland Drug and Alcohol Taskforce and the National Drugs Unit. 

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Sara Rasool told the meeting that it would be great if garda drug awareness visits became policy at schools.

“It is the youths that you really need to reach out to and get them involved even at upper primary level, transitioning from primary to secondary as well,” she said.