An external evaluation commissioned by Ireland's Department of Justice has recommended fundamental reforms to the Dublin Drug Treatment Court, calling for an end to strict abstinence requirements for participants seeking to graduate from the programme.

The review, conducted by the UK-based Centre for Justice Innovation, concluded that the court's rigid focus on total abstinence has limited its overall effectiveness and contributed to low completion numbers. Established in 2001 as a District Court pilot programme, the scheme offers supervised rehabilitation, education, and treatment as an alternative to prison, but only 105 participants have graduated over its two-decade history.

Under the court's existing framework, individuals charged with non-violent offences linked to drug dependency can voluntarily enter the programme. Court proceedings or sentencing are paused while participants undertake rehabilitation, with criminal charges struck out if they engage satisfactorily.

The evaluation advised refocusing graduation criteria away from mandatory total abstinence towards demonstrated reductions in drug use and measurable improvements in personal health and well-being. Evaluators also recommended targeting high-risk re-offenders who are most likely to receive custodial sentences, arguing that minor possession cases should instead be diverted through community health initiatives.

In addition, the report suggested reconsidering rules that exclude individuals charged with violent drug-related offences, citing international evidence showing that higher-risk offenders can achieve substantial rehabilitative gains. The authors noted ongoing confusion among practitioners regarding the court's primary aims and its alignment with Ireland's evolving health-led drug policy.

Responding to the findings, the Department of Justice stated that updates have already been made to the court's graduation framework alongside efforts to raise awareness among judges, resulting in a recent uptick in referrals. The department added that an implementation group will examine whether legislative changes are necessary to support further reforms.