RESIDENTS' groups and anti-drugs campaigners from Tallaght are planning a protest outside Dublin Castle today to highlight what they.say is a concerted effort by gardai to break up the anti-drugs movement.
The second day of an EU drugs conference takes place in the Castle today.
About 500 people crowded into the community hall in Killinarden, Tallaght, to protest at recent Garda operations.
They also accused politicians and the media of failing to recognise the work being done in local communities to set up treatment facilities for drug addicts.
Mr Peter Smyth, spokesman for Killinarden Against Drugs, said drug dealers were trying to break up anti-drug committees while the gardai continually stopped and questioned members of the committees to try to find out about their activities.
He said Operation Dochas, the Garda plan which the force says is aimed at rescuing the street drug dealing, was actually "a politically motivated move against the people who are trying to get the drug dealers out of their areas."
The media was also criticised for referring to "vigilante attacks".
"The real vigilantes are the drug pushers, they are the people doing the damage" one man said, to loud applause.
During the meeting residents complained that gardai were always available to stop their cars to check tax and insurance, but were not supporting the efforts of the local people to keep dealers from their estates.