The Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, said last night that there was a danger that the needs of poor communities in Dublin could be lost sight of in the response to the drug problem.
"We must recognise that even if we contain the drug problem and the crime that comes with it, many parts of Dublin will still face unacceptably high levels of poverty, joblessness and social exclusion."
He was speaking at a meeting of the party where Ms Helen Lahert was selected as a Democratic Left candidate in the Dublin North Central constituency.
