Minister for Higher and Further Education Simon Harris has announced a plan to put together an awareness campaign warning about the possible spiking of women and others with drugs in bars and nightclubs with the USI.

Describing the practice as a "major worry", Minister Harris said he has met with the USI (Union of Students in Ireland) to hear its concerns around the issue, which he says is  "very much beginning to take hold here".

He also said there were "growing and very worrying reports" of the phenomenon of women and others being spiked by needles beginning to take hold in Ireland, after a number of cases were reported in the UK over the past weeks.

Minister Harris said that he was very eager to establish an awareness campaign for students in the coming weeks, and that he would be raising the matter in coming days with the Minister for Justice.

Since nightclubs have reopened in Ireland, there have been a number of reports circulating on social media of people being spiked with needles. Gardai are investigating at least two reports in Dublin and in Limerick. Police in the UK are also investigating a number of claims.