Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

It does not require a report to show that there has been significant investment in sporting and community facilities around the country in recent years. In towns and villages and other urban areas people work to share these facilities, by bringing committees together. Parents of people in the age group Deputy Stanton mentioned are concerned to keep them away from the drink and drug culture. There are many good organisations to help these people such as Eddie Kerr's organisation, the no-drink and no-name clubs which do a wonderful job in providing hops and discos for young people. This is not possible everywhere and the involvement of alcohol or drugs ruins these activities.

Earlier today I attended the launch of some of these programmes and I have heard and seen submissions stating that as long as they can confine themselves to simple youth activities there is no problem in scouting organisations, GAA, soccer, rugby or athletic clubs. When programmes aim at youth alone, not in association with a club, there is a difficulty. The point these people make is that the organisations should work together to use the infrastructure to the best of their ability so that people from various clubs and organisations can get out. Most people say it is very hard to keep drink and drugs out of youth clubs. The many submissions to the task force from up and down the country make this point.

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