Gillian Toole (Meath East, Independent)

On a more serious note, I thank the Minister, his team and I presume The Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers for the sterling work on what I consider to be a future-proofing and highly considered safeguarding of the next generations of the country. I also express my gratitude to our juvenile liaison officers. I will name two of them in particular from County Meath, garda Barbara Kelly and garda Aisling Connor and the entire community team there, the support workers of the youth diversion projects, the community and voluntary leaders of the drug and alcohol task forces, the members of the strengthening families programmes and all of the volunteers who participate in night leagues and who help with community buses. This is fantastic work and it sets the tone. I will not tell the Minister what to do next, or otherwise. This in itself is fantastic and it opens the door to other far-reaching work.

The community safety fund is pivotal and the growth from €2 million to €4 million is welcomed. It is important how the money is used within the communities, as is the use of data to target specific areas where it will be of most benefit and will be most far-reaching in enabling children to reach their full potential, while limiting the individuals who suck the lifeblood out of communities and families.

I will not repeat everything that my colleagues have said. I see the Minister is taking plenty of notes. He does not need any more to add to his list. I want to mention two areas in particular, for when funds are being distributed. I agree that further investment in the fiscal and human resources of An Garda Síochána is needed but investment is also needed in drug, alcohol and mental health supports, in collaboration with the HSE and the ETBs, particularly those that provide tutors to the local training initiatives and the special community employment schemes. I will refer to two in particular, in County Meath. The first is Meath Opportunities for Training, the local training initiative, linked to Tabor House, which supports people in recovery from drugs and alcohol. There is also the special community employment scheme in Navan, which assists people to regain life skills and to upskill. As we know, from other debates in the House, there are funding gaps for tutors who provide this invaluable service. I do not think there will be any shortage of extremely deserving, community-based organisations that will help people to recover and will also help safeguard young people and deliver them from life-limiting and life-damaging interactions with the drugs trade.

I applaud and commend the Minister for his work thus far.

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