Ms Marie Metcalfe:

I agree with the Deputy. I have visited those areas. The Garda's relationship with the community is not as good as it would be with a project leader. Personalities matter in a job like this. One needs to be able to work with people and know the buttons to push on each side.

I will make a comment, although it is not on my own behalf. In recent years the Government has not taken the issue of drugs seriously. We do not have a Minister with sole responsibility for it, as we should. We used to have one when the Labour Party was involved. Having a Minister fighting the battle helped. Even if we did not meet him or her every day, we knew that he or she was there.

My project's resources have been cut, although I do not want this to be about my wages, as I would work for €100. I am not in my job for the love of money. If members knew how much I was being paid, they would tell me to go on "the labour". My job has been cut to four days per week, although I still work seven days. That is not a problem because I love my job. It is my community and that is what I should do. If the Government is cutting a project that means something to a community or if it does not care about those who are trying to help people, it does not care about the people. Resources across the board have been badly hit, particularly in local communities. We have been hit; the Garda has been hit; everyone has been hit. When the little people on the ground like us are hit, it is serious trouble.