Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is very appropriate we are having this debate. We all know from our constituency work the degree to which young people have been in need of attention, support and service support of a mental nature as well as an educational nature in recent years. Remember that we were hit by an economic crash followed by Covid, all of which put a serious dent on society. We tend to forget everything except the most pressing issue of the moment. Young people are at the age when, having come through their childhood, they are looking forward to the future. If they have had a stable home, they look forward with confidence. If they have not had a stable home, they are not so confident.

They then meet challenges and the challenges are many and varied. Poor self-esteem is a regular issue. There are eating disorders and various other pressures referred to by other speakers. Deputy Shortall mentioned social media and the bullying that takes place among both sexes. The extent to which society has time to address these issues is something to which we have to pay attention before it is too late. Young people look for security. They look for something to hang onto. They look for an anchor. Those anchors have not been there. They need to be there and need to be put there as a matter of considerable urgency. It is fine for people to say there are other pressing issues. There are, but these are equally pressing issues. Young people are being beset by drug barons. This has been referred to by other speakers and the Minister of State. The drug barons are ever-present, pushing their wares, ensuring they have a market for their product and bringing young people into that loop. Once they are in the loop, they cannot get out.

I am glad to have had an opportunity to speak. The Ceann Comhairle and I could speak for quite a long time on this subject. Much as I would like to I cannot do so other than to say I am glad to have had an opportunity to speak and I hope we can do something about the issues.

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