Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join other members in thanking Mr. Packie Kelly and Mr. Tim Murphy for their presentation and in thanking Deputy Ó Caoláin for suggesting they appear before the joint committee. On reading this report, this is a new area for all members but as members of the Joint Committees on Health and Children and Justice, Defence and Equality, it is important that this issue be examined and grasped and that members give consideration to what they can do. On listening to the presentation, I have a specific question. Mr. Kelly mentioned the term "young people", which can have a wide meaning in certain ways. I seek greater understanding of the profile of the type of young people concerned. Is it socio-economic or what is the age profile? I ask to enable me to understand, because it is a new area. On examining the materials and packaging the witnesses circulated to members, some of it certainly is aimed not even at teenagers, but at very young people. As for the report produced for Teach na Daoine by Dr. Marie Claire Van Hout and Evelyn Hearne, I opened one page on which there was a quote from a participant in one of the case studies stating:

There’s also child protection issues, very young children and their parents are taking this stuff, they’re exposed to this stuff, and they’re walking around picking it up off the street. Sometimes parents and children are fighting over it. Fighting over who needs it the most.

As one of the children then even went on to ask, "How do you expect me to report my mommy and daddy?", there also is an intergenerational aspect. I wish to try to understand better, in order that I do not leave the meeting misinformed. In the specific recommendations made, I note Mr. Kelly called for increasing local sports partnership activities. What of the youth work organisations' activities in the area and the funding thereof because drastic cuts have been made to those areas and perhaps this is an area that should be examined? Mr. Kelly mentioned clinical awareness. What engagement does Teach na Daoine have with the formal health services? Obviously, it is positive that it is getting funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. What engagement does Teach na Daoine have on a clinical level? On the interagency side, is there an issue with regard to dual diagnosis, that is, looking at the mental health issues? While I have not seen it yet, I am merely trying to wade through this report, which was handed to members as the meeting began. Consequently, I would be interested in being apprised regarding the mental health issues and the correlations.