Derelict houses in Bray have become a magnet for drug users with a number of council properties turning into dumping grounds for syringes, according to one local councillor.
Sinn Féin’s John Brady has called on Bray Town Council to take immediate action to ensure boarded up houses in the town are reallocated to ensure families on social housing waiting lists are homed.
The councillor made his comments after a large number of used syringes and other drug paraphernalia were found at a property that has been boarded up by the council for over four months.
“I was contacted by a number of very concerned locals in relation to a large stash of used syringes and other drug paraphernalia in the back garden of a council property that has been boarded up by the council now for over four months,” Cllr Brady said.
“This is totally unacceptable on a number of fronts. First, that the house is being used as a drug den and these syringes are being discarded in a highly built-up residential area where large numbers of children are playing.
“Secondly, it’s scandalous that when council houses are handed back they are left lying vacant for months on end. There is a housing crisis and this is totally unacceptable.”
The syringes were cleared up by the councillor and a local resident using specialist equipment and the haul was disposed of at Bray Garda Station.
In total, over 30 syringes were disposed of along with other drug paraphernalia.
“This property and the many others around the town need to be secured, cleaned up and reallocated immediately to deal with the housing crisis that exists and to ensure disgraceful acts like this, acts that are a real threat to children and others in the town, are brought to an end,” Brady said.
