Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Dr. Lambert for the presentation. I want to pick up on a couple of points. The issue of drugs arises in every town and village in the country. Young people owe drug dealers money and the dealers are going to the families looking for the money if the young people cannot pay. The issues of poverty, education and employment are central. As Dr. Lambert said, the fact we are dealing with the same people over and over again tells us we are doing something wrong. An issue that I have dealt with is that when young people turn 18, they are often on their own. While they have the same mental health issues and the same problems they had when they were 17, when the family could vouch for them, once they turn 18, they can nearly tell their family where to go. That is a big issue. The parents should still have a say in the lives of those young people, even when they become 18 or 21. There is a large cost to the State and individuals. It is when they are young that we need to invest money in kids, whether that is through education, youth facilities, community groups or mental health services. We need to put a lot more money into those services to help people when they are young.

When people have served their time and comes out of prison, they need some kind of outlet so their first option is not to go back in again. Again, this goes back to housing and services. It is very easy for people to end up back where they were. I have dealt with people who have addiction problems, whether drugs or alcohol, but who were trying to sort themselves out. The homeless services in County Meath are now looking to Drogheda for services but the only places available are in locations where people have to be accommodated with others who have addictions. It is very difficult for them to have any chance to get away to where they want to be.

While gardaí are not the answer to some things, a Garda presence is important. There are Garda stations across the country that are manned for just a couple of hours a week. If gardaí are on the beat and out and about, they know what is going on and they know people, but that is no longer the situation in many parts of the country.

I thank Dr. Lambert for her work. I agree with the point on investment in children and families.