John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Ellis and McDonald for bringing forward this Bill and for the help and support they have given the Brennan family since this became an issue and in particular, over the last few days as they highlighted the issue outside Leinster House. That shows the lengths people must go to in order to highlight an issue that has arisen in different housing estates in this country which has led to death and injury but to which we have failed to generate a proactive response. I appreciate the cross-party support for this Bill.

The estate in question is in my own parish and is within yards of my constituency office. I attended Jake's funeral and again I extend my sympathy to the Brennan family. I must say it was the greatest outpouring of grief and sadness that I have ever witnessed. To lose a child of that age in such circumstances was both shocking and traumatic for that family. Great credit is due to Roseann Brennan and all of those who support her. The way in which she has gathered the strength and courage to go out and highlight this issue, not just for herself and the Lintown estate, but for all of the other housing estates throughout the country, is remarkable. I have stood back in admiration as I watched her make her case. There were no boundaries; she went directly to the Minister, the Taoiseach, councillors and Deputies. She has given radio interviews that a professional would not give. She has done it all out of passion for a resolution to the issue that saw her son killed. I know that Jake will never be forgotten and I hope that any Bill that comes forward will be described as Jake's law, given the fact that Jake's mother has campaigned so hard for this legislation. The work she has done must be recognised.

Lintown is an estate that is replicated all over the country. It is one of those sprawling estates that was built over a number of years during the boom. If the planning regulations had been adhered to, it would have had traffic ramps. If issues like that were addressed at the time of planning, speed ramps would have been in place. It is extraordinary to think that Jake's death and other similar deaths and injuries in housing estates could have been prevented, if speed ramps were in place and funding was provided to local authorities to make that happen. While we are preparing legislation here, there is nothing to stop local authorities from agreeing to provide speed ramps.

I respect the Minister's interest in this and believe he is sincere about it and I am pleased that the Government has agreed to accept this Bill. However, there is an urgency about this because the Lintown estate does not have speed ramps or other traffic calming measures and the same is true of many other estates. In that context, councils need funding and they also need the process involved in reaching an agreement on speed limits to be simplified. There is too much bureaucracy involved in that process. There is no body better than a local authority to decide on the appropriate speed limits in its own area. However, the process that has to be gone through to achieve that is lengthy. In most cases, the demand to achieve it is urgent and is deemed to be thus by those living in these housing estates. People in these communities know what they want.

My own son, Andrew McGuinness, is a member of Kilkenny County Council and has brought forward his plans for the Lintown and other estates. He has cross-party support for those plans. The next question is, "Where is the funding?". It is not just Lintown, but many other estates. As I said, Lintown is similar to many other estates throughout the country and they all have the same problem. All are agreed that speed ramps will help but there is no money available. I do not see enough speed by the local authorities in the process of providing these ramps. They should be encouraged, if not forced, to do it far quicker.

The question is, "Was Jake's life not enough?". We have constantly to ask ourselves that question. As we deal with this legislation and whatever else is needed - through local authorities, Government funding, An Garda Síochána and so forth - we must ensure that it goes beyond this debate and that there is constant engagement in terms of developing ideas that will prevent young lives from being taken. I know that Roseann will say that the child did not just run out on the road. The child was actually being cared for and the parents were being very careful. It happened in a split second and the child was killed. He died in his mother's arms, with tyre marks across his body. That may be graphic but we need to understand that it goes beyond this debate this evening. This must be highlighted this evening and thereafter, we must demand action on it.

I urge the Minister to write to every county council chairman and every mayor and point out to them that this Bill is going through this House and in the meantime, they could do the various things that need to be done. He should not just inform the executive, but also the mayors or chairmen. Roseann Brennan, her family and her supporters have done this State a great service out of trauma and sadness at the death of their child. Jake's death should be the end. We should give a really positive response, including the provision of funding to empower the councils to deliver for the Brennans in particular, who were brave enough to see this through and for other families all over the country.

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