Drug convictions down in Kildare
Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin
Total convictions for drug offences in our District Court system rose from 5,202 in 2024 to 5,440 in 2025 — a five per cent increase nationwide, however the Naas District is bucking this trend, down from 190 in 2024 to 149 – a fall of 22 per cent.
These figures were revealed to MEP for Ireland South Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.who has warned that these figures are only “the tip of the iceberg”, saying they point to a broader rise in drug use in Ireland that must be confronted head on.
Whilst district court drug convictions in many Irish towns have remained relatively stable or declined, some towns and counties in Ireland have recorded significant rises in the number of people convicted in our district court system on drugs offences.
Dublin topped the table of drug offence convictions, with 2,071 people convicted of drug offences in the capital in 2025 - up 11 per cent on 2024.
Cork was in second place with 504 convictions for drug offences in 2025, but down seven per cent on 2024.
Drug convictions in our District Courts are well above pre-pandemic levels (2019), with 2021 recording the highest number While most counties or District Court offices recorded falls in the number of persons convicted on drugs offences between 2024 and 2025, some District Court areas recorded massive jumps. That included Tullamore (+180%), Roscommon (+100%), Portlaoise (+95%), Clonmel (+27%), Mallow (+27%) and Waterford (+17%).
Clonakilty recorded the biggest fall in the number of people convicted for drug offences between 2024 and 2025, falling by 50 per cent.
Dundalk, Ballina, Carlow and Letterkenny also recorded significant falls in the number of people convicted for drug offences between 2024 and 2025.
Other notable trends in the figures include a sharp decline in the number of drug convictions in West Cork (Clonakilty district court office) but a surge in drug convictions in the Midlands (Tullamore District Court office +180%) Portlaoise (+95%) and Longford (+24%).
Ní Mhurchú, a former barrister, said the disparity in drug convictions across District Court offices warrants investigation.
She added that drugs in the community are a major concern raised by parents, community leaders, pub owners, and Gardaí. The MEP has also previously highlighted a 37 per cent year-on-year rise in drug-driving offences. The figures show that a small number of people were convicted in 2025 for attempting to smuggle drugs into prisons.
