A Dublin TD has warned that as Dublin City remains practically deserted during the coronavirus lockdown, drug dealers are focusing on suburbs for selling.
And what's even more shocking is the fact that dealing peaks are seen in the hours and minutes after people receive the COVID-19 social welfare payment.
Sinn Féin's Dessie Ellis has said there's been a massive increase in recent weeks of thugs dealing in areas already notorious for selling such as Finglas and Ballymun.
Deputy Ellis said with less users in the city centre, outer areas are seeing a resurgence.
He said: "We're also seeing a pattern when people are getting more money it seems to be more concentrated."
"For instance a lot of people are getting say two weeks now, social welfare or otherwise, so you're seeing a peak when that happens and then it sort of lessens the following week when there's little or no money available."
