One of the country's busiest hospitals has asked gardai for increased patrols because of open drug dealing.
The Mater Hospital in Dublin says they were worried about patients and staff as a result.
The Irish Independent reports the Mater Hospital emailed gardai about a number of concerns in July.
It said there was increasing levels of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in the emergency department
It also said it regularly had to move on drug users from the exterior basement and as a result, they were worried about the Nurses Education Centre which is close by.
It said cleaners were regularly removing abandoned bedding and alcohol cans.
It outlined five incidents over three weeks where security staff had to intervene for security reasons.
The gardai were asked to carry out regular patrols in the area to provide safety and reassurance.
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