Big rise in drug offences, while car thefts double

“IN some parts of Carlow, people will tell you drugs are as easy to get as a takeaway. That level of access shows just how normalised they’ve become – and that has to change.” 

That was the stark warning from cllr Daniel Pender, cathaoirleach of Muinebheag Municipal District, following the release of new crime figures that show a sharp rise in drug and road offences across the Carlow/Kilkenny region. There was a 27% increase in drug offences in the last six months, with a 58% rise in drink- and drug-driving offences. Car thefts almost doubled in the same period.

The CSO figures highlight just how stark the shifts have been in just six months. Controlled drug offences rose from 184 incidents to 233, an increase of 27%, while cases of possession for personal use jumped from 128 to 164, up 28%. Drink- and drug-driving offences showed one of the steepest rises, climbing by 58% from 72 to 114, and vehicle theft almost doubled, rising from 42 to 75 incidents.

By contrast, burglary and related offences fell sharply, down 31% from 166 to 114, while assaults causing harm also declined, dropping from 83 to 68. Weapons and explosives offences recorded a fall from 39 to 28.

However, not all categories improved. Incidents of arson nearly doubled from 14 to 26, and cases of criminal damage and environmental offences rose from 214 to 248, a 16% increase.

The information, published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), compares the second half of 2024 with the first half of 2025. The statistics reveal a surge in controlled drug offences, possession for personal use, and drink and drug-driving – trends that local politicians say mirror what communities are seeing on the ground.

Cllr Pender (FF) said the spike in road-related offences was one of the most concerning aspects of the figures. “This is deeply worrying. These crimes endanger innocent lives. They are reckless and selfish choices. The message has to be crystal clear: don’t drink and drive, and don’t take drugs. Full stop.” 

He argued that enforcement needed to be coupled with health-based interventions, pointing to international models where firm penalties are balanced with immediate access to treatment.

He continued: “Sweden shows how this can work. They combine firm enforcement with immediate access to treatment and rehabilitation. People who are caught face consequences, but they also get structured support to overcome addiction. That reduces reoffending, helps people turn their lives around, and ultimately makes communities safer.” 

Cllr Adrienne Wallace (PBP) said she shared residents’ concerns about the rise in drug and driving offences and argued that prevention must be central to tackling the issue. She suggested that part of the solution could lie in transport policy as well as enforcement. “Perhaps we need to examine where in the county these offences occur the most. If it is in rural Carlow, then we should be examining free, late-night links to safely accommodate people out at night.

“The stick approach only works so far; many don’t think they will get caught or hurt, so it’s obviously not enough of a deterrent. We should find alternatives to ensure it stops,” she added.

Mayor of Carlow Paul Doogue (FG) said the rising figures reflected gardaí becoming more active and visible in local communities. “The recordings of higher statistics are because the gardaí are more active in the community and more fines are being handed out, people are not getting away with as much as before.” 

But he warned that policing alone was not enough. He called for more garda recruitment nationwide, tougher sentencing, and a stronger focus on education for young people. “People in my opinion are getting away too easily after being caught; handed down a suspended sentence, then they go out and reoffend.” 

 Independent councillor Will Paton expressed surprise that drink-driving offences had risen, but said he was not shocked by the increase in drug-driving. And he was sharply critical of garda resourcing in Co Carlow. 

“We see that garda resources have been increased in areas like Dublin city centre, which is fine for Dublin city centre, but that comes at a cost, in my opinion, to local towns and villages. In Tullow, in particular, resources are stretched too thin.” 

Cllr Paton also questioned the effectiveness of the justice system, pointing to repeat offenders. “There are far too many people wandering the streets who have been convicted 50, 60, 70, 80 times and don’t seem to get the message. In fact, the message they are getting is that no matter what you do, there’s a revolving door, and unless you literally commit murder, you’re not going to get sentenced to prison.

“There’s the saying ‘do the crime, do the time’; now it’s more like ‘do the crime, face no time’. Back in the 1850s, you would’ve been hung for stealing a sheep!”