ANOTHER community anti drugs group has been set up in Tallaght, Co Dublin. It is hoping to assist in the provision of treatment services for addicts and awareness education to young people.
The members of the Glenshane Against Drugs group are also keeping watch on those coming and going from their estate, and following people they believe may be involved in drug dealing, according to a spokesman.
"We want to get crime out of our area. We are involved in peaceful protest and are not out to attempt violence against anyone," he said.
The meeting which established the group on Thursday night was attended by local gardai. The group says it wants to co operate with gardai and the Eastern Health Board.
There are now understood to be four community anti drugs groups in the west Tallaght area. They say heroin dealing and addiction are major problems in their communities.
The Glenshane group says it wants to be given a role in vetting new residents.
"The junkies are starting to get frustrated and tempers are high," said the spokesman. "They have to keep moving from house to house because we are keeping an eye on them."
Some drug dealers are attempting to intimidate those involved in trying to end the drugs according to the spokesman: "There will be an awful lot of incidents. This is a battle for the working class people of the are and they are determined to stamp out drugs."
The group has organised" "watches" at roads leading into the area. Information is passed on to the Garda.
Garda sources said they had no" difficulty with such groups. "They are just keeping an eye on things. It's a type of neighbourhood watch, and we have no problem with that."
The Labour TD for Dublin South West, Mr Eamonn Walsh, has welcomed the publication of a new anti drugs newsletter, The Shrew, in the Tallaght region.