Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

They do not play football, GAA sports or whatever it might be. It is a matter of trying to encourage them to do something other than that. Mr. Treacy hit the nail on the head when he referred to the fact that non-organised sport just does not happen any more. I do not see it on local greens any more. When I started out as a councillor 14 years ago, I would have been knocking on doors at weekends or in the evenings and there would have been children out playing everywhere. Now, one does not see them. Can that be tied to a combination of factors, including a latent fear on the part of society, screen time and other such elements whereby children are not been kicked out the door as was the case with me and, I am sure, most other present? When we got home from school, we did our homework and if we had not had lunch, we would have something to eat. Then we were out of the door until dinner time and when dinner was finished, we were out the door again until bedtime. That was what happened and there was no question of a television being on. At least that is what it was like in my household. Is that all gone? In Mr. Treacy's professional capacity, is there any opportunity for even an element of that to be rekindled?