Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not have the jitters but I am hoping to give them to the Minister.

I thank the witnesses for their presentations which were very good. It is to be hoped that if we can get them a place in our report, there will be more thought around many of these issues. Things get said and are just left there with not enough done. Most of the good points that the witnesses are making will remain aspirational until someone is prepared to make changes to how things are done. I think everyone made the point that for aspirations to become reality, it will cost money and more resources will be required in certain areas, whether they are taken from other areas or extra money is required for us to have real community policing. I get the impression that the witnesses feel that more will have to go towards the overall budget in the first place.

I am running away, as it were, and so will ask only two questions. Mr. Garvey said Muintir na Tíre "would like to see increased resources at a central level" and "would also like to see a return to each community having an allocated garda". Does he think that some Garda stations should also be reopened?

Some of the witnesses touched on this but do they agree that schools offer a great potential in developing a healthier approach to kids coming from a troubled background? They referred to cuts to centres and so on. I see ten to 15 kids in villages in Italy gather around a lamp post or bench there and they do not cause trouble. There is a different mentality. I am not saying that they do not have youth centres or anything. Do schools not offer potential? From my own experience going to school, it has a huge influence. Teachers and individuals in the school can have a great impact on how one sees things. Some teachers had a huge influence on me. It is different from home. The philosophy that comes from home is crucial but school is different. Is it too aspirational in terms of the work to be done?

When I was young, we knew the local garda and we also knew where he was. He moved around the parish a bit but he was in the barracks at certain hours and we knew where to get him. He was completely a part of the community whereas now, with the so-called mobile garda, I do not have a clue who the garda is at home now. I would not be in a position to go and look for him or her if I needed to. That is a great loss to the community.