FUNDING for a confidential drug-dealing whistleblower hotline has been axed despite the service being hailed as a success.

'Dial to stop drug dealing' was launched on a trial basis in 2007 and was expanded last year on foot of positive results. Since last November, the Manchester-based call centre received 1,400 anonymous tips from members of the public, 370 of which were forwarded on to local garda stations.

But now, with a fixed rate per call made to the hotline, the remaining state funding will decrease in line with the amount of phone calls made.

The move was confirmed by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs which said that a final allocation of €300,000 has been given to 10 projects for 2009.

"As the allocation for funding for drugs initiatives in 2009 is fully committed, I regret that there is no scope, at present, for further campaigns," a statement read.

Critics have branded the move a disaster, saying the winding down of the service will impact negatively, particularly in the Blanchardstown area of west Dublin where it was established in September 2008.

"It is good news for drug dealers because this was a forum for people to pass on information," said local councillor Paul Donnelly, a member of the area's drugs task force.

"It was evaluated in the middle of last year and it was deemed to be a great success. The guards said it was very good information and led to a number of arrests and seizures."

Members of the public with information on drug dealers in their area could contact the hotline, safe in the knowledge that nobody, including the gardaí, would be given their personal details.

Any information deemed suitable or of significant value was passed on to local investigators.

"This was strong intelligence; it was coming from people who lived next door and across the road and the real beauty of it was that people didn't have to go to the guards," said Donnelly.