Ms Niamh N? Chonchubhair:

I will respond to Deputy McAuliffe. I thank him for all his support for Ballymun For All and community responses on this and many other issues. I do not think the far right will move on. The issues and tactics might change. While the current situation is deplorable, there must be scope for us to embrace it as an opportunity. I believe Ballymunners know how to talk to each other and that communities the length and breadth of the country have the capacity to have bespoke ways of addressing these issues. However, it is getting harder.

Earlier on, we were asked if it is a matter of funding. The answer is “Yes and No”. In order to hold the space to have these conversations with our neighbours, friends, colleagues and family members, current and ongoing community resourcing, development and work cannot be diminished or disrupted. If anything, it has to be uplifted. The core of why organisations are tackling this at grassroots level cannot be diminished. It has to be added to. We need to find a way to expand the conversation on this issue and not, as Ms Crickley said, to rob Peter to pay Paul.

Where there are threats of violence, a lot of this work is ongoing and there is so much that could and should be celebrated but there is a fear of lifting your head above the parapet. Sometimes that fear is because you do not want to draw attention to the ongoing work or bring that small number of people’s attention to vulnerable people availing of your support and services. This work is long term and, if it is to be tackled at a structural level, people need to be heard. It must be acknowledged that it is frustrating that they are on the housing list for so long or that they could not be seen at the hospital they presented at.