Total convictions for drug offences in our District Court system rose from 5,202 in 2024 to 5,440 in 2025 — a 5% increase nationwide. Ní Mhurchú argues these figures are only the tip of the iceberg, warning 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% on 2024.
Top ten District Court offices for the number of people convicted on drug offences in our district court system in 2025.
| District court office | No of people convicted in 2025 | % change on 2024 figures | |
| 1 | Dublin | 2071 | +11% |
| 2 | Cork | 504 | -7% |
| 3 | Clonmel | 281 | +27% |
| 4 | Portlaoise | 248 | +95% |
| 5 | Limerick | 211 | -15% |
| 6 | Mallow | 182 | +27% |
| 7 | Tullamore | 171 | +180% |
| 8 | Tralee | 166 | -9% |
| 9 | Waterford | 160 | +17% |
| 10 | Galway | 154 | -10% |
Cork was in second place with 504 convictions for drug offences in 2025, but down 7% on 2024. Clonmel district court office recorded the next highest number of people convicted for drug offences in 2025 at 281, a 27% increase on 2024. Portlaoise district court office came in fourth place at 248 people, a 95% increase on 2024 followed by Limerick, Mallow, Tullamore, Tralee, Waterford and Galway all making the top ten of district court offices recording the largest number of people convicted for drug offences in our District Courts in 2025.
Drug convictions in our District Courts are well above pre-pandemic levels (2019), with 2021 recording the highest number of drug offence convictions.
Total number of people convicted in our district court system each year from 2019 to 2025 for drug offences – nationally.
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| No of people convicted | 4,816 | 4,151 | 6,047 | 5,663 | 5,497 | 5,202 | 5,440 |
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%. Dundalk, Ballina, Carlow and Letterkenny also recorded significant falls in the number of people convicted for drug offences between 2024 and 2025. (See table below). 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% 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 with greater numbers convicted of drug possession, possession for sale or supply, cannabis cultivation, and a small number of forged prescription cases. (Full list in the figures above)
Ní Mhurchú has called for the swift implementation of the governments National Drugs Strategy, 2026- 2029, a government policy initiative that is currently being finalised. She also called for a raft of community-based sanctions against those convicted of recreational drug use, higher fines for casual drug use, more detox beds for those with addiction issues, restorative justice programmes and publicity campaigns to tackle social drug use.
No of Irish people convicted of drug offences broken down by District Court between 2024 and 2025.
| District Court Office | Number of people convicted of drug offences in our district court system in 2024 | Number of people convicted of drug offences in our district court system in 2025 | Percentage change |
| Ballina | 14 | 9 | -36% |
| Bray | 92 | 99 | +8% |
| Carlow | 90 | 60 | -33% |
| Carrick On Shannon | 12 | 13 | +8% |
| Castlebar | 29 | 25 | -14% |
| Cavan | 93 | 104 | +12% |
| Clonakilty | 143 | 72 | -50% |
| Clonmel | 222 | 281 | +27% |
| Cork | 543 | 504 | -7% |
| Donegal | 16 | 18 | +12.5% |
| Dublin | 1,858 | 2071 | +11% |
| Dundalk | 103 | 65 | -37% |
| Ennis | 78 | 68 | -13% |
| Galway | 171 | 154 | -10% |
| Kilkenny | 78 | 71 | -9% |
| Letterkenny | 69 | 48 | -30% |
| Limerick | 247 | 211 | -15% |
| Longford | 25 | 31 | +24% |
| Loughrea | 33 | 33 | – |
| Mallow | 143 | 182 | +27% |
| Monaghan | 64 | 58 | -9% |
| Mullingar | 58 | 53 | -9% |
| Naas | 190 | 149 | -22% |
| Nenagh | 108 | 102 | -6% |
| Portlaoise | 127 | 248 | +95% |
| Roscommon | 13 | 26 | +100% |
| Sligo | 24 | 24 | – |
| Tralee | 183 | 166 | -9% |
| Trim | 90 | 87 | -3% |
| Tullamore | 61 | 171 | +180% |
| Waterford | 137 | 160 | +17% |
| Wexford | 88 | 77 | -12.5% |
| Total | 5,202 | 5,440 | +5% |
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