COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 12, 2022

QUESTION NO. 23

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive for a detailed report into Gas cannister sniffing in SDCC, what role the local authority could play in the education around this and are there plans for this to be raised at the Policing forum meeting as an issue of huge concern in SCCC?

REPLY:

While specific local statistical and other data is not readily available in relation to this issue, the matter has been regularly raised at various Joint Policing Committee, Local Policing Forum, Drugs Task Force and other meetings.  Local Dáil representatives on the South Dublin JPC have also been pursuing the potential for legislative change surrounding the sale of gas cannisters that are mainly manufactured for use in the catering industry, but which are generally and readily available online at low cost.

The Council previously supported an awareness initiative in this regard by Clondalkin Drugs and Alcohol Task Force and further potential educational and public health initiatives will be considered by the JPC Drugs Subcommittee to highlight the dangers of using these cannisters.  In conjunction with both local Drugs and Alcohol Task Forces, the sub-committee will also examine what data is available and other explore ways to mitigate the ongoing environmental issues in some open spaces and parks.