Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ward for bringing this motion forward. It is timely and important, particularly for the people living in the areas most affected. It is fair to say that these issues present in different ways in different places, some at the more extreme end. The solution is the same in all cases and it is clearly outlined in the Sinn Féin motion. It is about ensuring there are sufficient Garda numbers for prevention and deterrence and adequate community resources, both physical and human.

I am a Deputy for Meath East, as is the Minister. Our county has the lowest number of gardaí per head of population in the State. One of our new towns, Ratoath, is the largest town in Ireland without a Garda station. We have the youngest small towns in the State in Stamullen, Enfield and Longwood and the youngest large towns in Navan and Ashbourne, according to census data. These towns have it in common that they have grown rapidly in the past two decades and have been victims of the Celtic tiger. It has been all about houses and more houses. County Meath has the lowest number of playgrounds, public green spaces, community centres and youth facilities. In the case of the latter, if one does not play GAA or soccer, they are non-existent. There are residents in one particular area in Ashbourne who have spent years trying to protect the last remaining patch of green space for their children to play. They have presented their case to Meath County Council and An Bord Pleanála time and again only to have the rug pulled from under them in the past week. In trying to provide a decent environment for their families to live, they are doing the State's work. Instead of being supported, they are being impeded at every hand's turn.

In ten years' time, when the same issues are being debated again in this House, the Deputies representing County Meath will, if they are honest, be saying that things have got worse. We will all know why that is the case. I am contacted on a regular basis by residents in Kells, Stamullen, Ashbourne and Ratoath, among other places, about nuisance and antisocial behaviour. The Minister knows well that such activity is regular and to an extent that warrants address. Some people are being terrorised in their own homes. We see the evidence of it on every community Facebook page and it must be stopped. I urge the Minister and all other Deputies to support the Sinn Féin motion. The Minister must increase the Garda presence for prevention and deterrence and increase community infrastructure, both physical and human. That is what is needed.

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