Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this very important debate on young people. I am delighted we have the opportunity to discuss issues regarding children and young people. This is a very important debate and we are at a crossroads in our wider society as regards young people and in comparison to what their peers were like 20 years ago.

Young people represent the future of the country and as such, are a major asset. We need to listen to young people and develop and plan around what they require and need for the future. I warmly welcome the magnificent efforts of Ms Emily Logan, the Ombudsman for Children, who has done great work, particularly in recent weeks, in serving the needs of young people and children. She is playing a fantastic role as regards this issue.

Looking at the wider debate, when she was consulting children over the last few weeks, it was possible to see what they thought about the wider society and what was going on in their minds. For example, 31% of children prioritise family and care as their first option, 24% regard play and recreation as a very important issue and 16% say that having a voice is very important. That is why today's debate is significant from the viewpoint of the Dáil reflecting the plea for children to have a voice, as indicated in that survey. Also 16% of the children express an interest in health, wealth and material well-being, while some 12% regard education as a major issue. The first priority is to zoom in and see what children need and require for the future. As someone who worked in the primary education sector for more than 25 years, I have some experience as regards these issues and believe all schools, in particular primary and pre-school institutions, should ensure they are listening to children. Much abuse and neglect can be caught if there is early intervention. There are many listening and progressive schools in disadvantaged areas which can assist children at a very young age for the future, and also help those who are at risk.

I raised these issues in my talks with the Taoiseach during the summer, particularly in my agreement with him. I put the issues on the agenda, particularly as regards children with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This needs to be included in a broader debate. When we talk about children, we need to ensure we are referring to all children, particularly those with disabilities as well as young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Over the next five years I am confident we will see a major investment in those areas and this is to be welcomed. Anybody who says the opposite is not telling the truth to voters. Major investments in the areas of disability, educational disadvantage and child care are planned for the next four or five years. We must accept the issues I have raised as a reality.

When discussing children, one must touch upon alcohol and drug abuse because one cannot accept a three year old or four year old child as normal in a home where there is cocaine abuse or excessive violence taking place. Sadly, this is the case in some homes. I totally reject the views of the smart-alec journalist who turned up on "The Late Late Show" and dismissed these facts in respect of cocaine. Cocaine presents a serious problem and has led to major violence. Drug feuds have resulted in many women becoming widows and young children being placed in very bad circumstances. I challenge those in the media who believe it is a matter for oneself what one puts in one's body. It is disgraceful for a person to spout such a message on a national television programme and I will not accept it in any way. One should think of the widows of those massacred in cocaine-fuelled feuds. That is the reality of Ireland in 2007 and I will not accept any oldguff from those who make assertions to the contrary.

Twelve years ago, while I was working in my previous day job, I attended three funerals of past pupils within a ten-day period and all the deaths were drugs-related. These are the issues with which we must deal and that is why this debate is very important.

On a positive note, we must listen to young people in respect of sport. Sport, regardless of whether it involves Gaelic games or soccer, is very important to one's development. I commend my local club, St. Vincent's, for its excellent win in the Dublin county championship recently. It is doing magnificent work for young people in Dublin North-Central and many other clubs are doing such work also.

We must broaden the debate on sports for young people and assist them to become more involved in the arts and music. I refer in particular to those who are not particularly talented at sport. Exposure to the arts, including music, at an early age is very important. In many disadvantaged schools, particularly on the north side of Dublin, there are excellent projects pertaining to the arts and music. One can use the arts to assist children from dysfunctional or very violent families. Some excellent projects in my area offer art therapy for children in such circumstances. A trained artist and therapist work with the children from Monday to Friday and do substantial preventative work. This is where we need to invest as investment in this area will deliver. I am confident that in the coming years such services will be rolled out in the most needy areas. Priority should always be accorded to the most disadvantaged in addition to children with disabilities in all sectors, irrespective of whether the disabilities are physical or intellectual.

I welcome some of the positive developments of recent weeks, particularly in Dublin North-Central. For example, an additional €108,000 was invested in north-side schools, and housing projects for the disabled have been launched in Coolock. The Greendale school is being planned and staff are being recruited to provide services for autistic children. Educational services in the Marino area have been improved and, as the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey will know, the Donnycarney Community & Youth Centre is doing an excellent job for the people of Donnycarney. It is a beautiful centre that needs to be supported and developed. Some €850,000 was allocated to the beautiful day centre of the Central Remedial Clinic in Clontarf. In the past ten days, €88,000 has been provided for ICT grants for 18 Dublin North-Central schools. These measures comprise part of the development of services for young people.

I recognise the many difficulties and challenges that face young people today. We need to address the issues of alcohol and drugs, promote good nutrition and healthier lifestyles and combat obesity. We must also develop sports facilities and address issues pertaining to youth work and youth justice. Young people are the future and we need to invest in them.

I urge more investment in services for young people and all adults should listen to and pay more attention to them. Then and only then will we have a bright future for all our children.

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