Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Meath is probably no different to many other counties and when we look at these issues, we sometimes try to benchmark them against the figures the Garda gives. People do not know what to believe with respect to figures they get from the Garda at present. The figures on breath tests were hocus pocus and now we see that the Central Statistics Office will no longer publish the homicide figures in the State due to concerns of accuracy. This is a shocking indictment of the Garda system.

Existing laws are not being implemented. Navan is hammered with derelict sites. There is a Derelict Sites Act and I ask the Minister of State to consider how the Act could be made easier to use. Local authorities are not using it due to the difficulties. There is also the Residential Tenancies Act and I ask how that can be made easier to use and enforce in order that people do not have to live beside residents who make their lives hell. Councils also should be empowered to develop more by-laws that are not flouted but are implemented.

Quality of life issues are very important. It does not have to be this way. We could make a change by improving the quality of life of people by getting them to take back their public spaces. This, however, needs better planning. We may be at the precipice of a whole new building space.

I ask the Government to ensure planning is put in place to make spaces safe for people in the future. We need to keep an eye on our children. There is no doubt about that. We need to teach them values. We must teach them what is right and wrong. We also need to ensure they have services and facilities. I will give an example. The OPW has owned a building in Enfield for the last five years. It pays for its upkeep and its security. The building has been closed each day for the last five years. We have asked over and again for the OPW to make this building accessible to the local community so that a youth club can be provided and other community groups in Enfield can provide local services. The OPW has said for five years that it will not open this building. It remains closed. I guarantee the Minister of State that State or Government buildings in each of the towns and villages about which we are concerned are not being used. They are closed to their communities or at least are not being fully utilised. I ask the Minister of State to take the cost-free step of making an audit of existing structures in order that we can bring safety back to our streets.

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