Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Buckley for his support on this important issue. I assume that when the Minister of State came to Rathangan in previous years with youth groups, they stayed at the camp in Killinthomas Wood.

I am glad she got a great welcome and she would continue to receive such a welcome, in particular if she helps us with this very pertinent issue. We are having a community event on 30 April at 2 p.m., and she would be very welcome.

I read and heard the response of the Minister of State, and I am trying to understand what it means because, to be perfectly honest, it is a non-response. We have been given a history of some of the strategic responses to suicide and self-harm. While excellent and important work has been done, I do not see anything in here that will help the particular situation to which I referred.

I suggest that we set up a meeting with the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, the volunteers and community. I want to pay particular tribute to the volunteers, including Lisa, Kevin, Debbie, Leo, Pat and others, who have put in Trojan work in working with the young people of Rathangan in a voluntary capacity. They have taken on different community projects. I dread to think what will happen to the youth cafe which, thanks to the State and funding from Kildare County Council, has been provided.

It is ridiculous that the State would provide one level of support but not another. When the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Katherine Zappone, published her strategy on youth cafes she said it is extremely important that there be professional support for young people. I am disappointed with the answer. I plead with the Minister of State to tread carefully and convey a message to the Minister of State and HSE when she is thinking of reducing or relocating any services for the young people of Rathangan.

The service is running a programme to allow young people to become leaders. One youth leader, Evan, said: "There is not enough people harming themselves in Rathangan. Is that why they took away the services? Do more people have to die in order for us to get services in Rathangan?" Essentially, the service has, thankfully, worked. Since 2012 we have not had any more young suicides. Why take away resources when the project is working? I plead with the Minister of State to bring a message back to the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee.

See this speech in context