Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I could not agree more with the Minister on her last point. I know that when we had the midnight soccer programme running, there was a 30% decrease in anti-social behaviour in various housing estates. Obviously, idle hands create difficulties. Does the Department still recognise the particular challenges faced by those in the RAPID areas in the context of youth services? Does the Minister accept that extra supports are needed in those areas, given that they are the most socially disadvantaged communities in the country? Has there been a front-loading of resources for those areas? Is the concept of RAPID still recognised by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs?

Concern has been expressed about Galway youth services, as the Minister knows. Will the Minister be able to do anything to address those concerns?

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