Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

Migration, when managed well and planned well, works well. We see that in the people who staff our hospitals and care homes, those working on our building sites and buses, in our restaurants and hotels and across the local services we all depend on, and in entrepreneurs running businesses and employing people in our communities. I am truly grateful for the contributions many of those people make to our society, communities and economy every day. I am also very conscious that some people who arrive here do not come by choice; they come because they are fleeing conflict, persecution or deep instability. They come here seeking shelter and safety.

There is another truth people feel in their day-to-day lives. They feel that right now the pace and scale of migration is too fast in many communities. That is because services and decision-making have not kept up. As a result, confidence in the system's ability to keep up has been shaken. People want a process that is firm, fair and credible, and a system that acts quickly. If someone has a legal right to be here, the Department should make that decision quickly and support them to settle in well and contribute positively to society. Equally, if someone does not have the legal right to remain here, the State must act promptly and deport them. This is how rules-based systems work in any functioning democracy.

I acknowledge the work under way by Government and the clear commitment, especially that shown in recent days and weeks, to strengthen our system, make it more efficient and ensure decisions are timely and fair. However, if we truly want to rebuild public trust and confidence in the system, we cannot just talk about national policies. We need to focus local because that is where policy becomes reality. Policy becomes real in communities, on people's doorsteps, in schools, in GP waiting rooms, on the street and in local facilities. That is where trust is built or lost. That is why we need to rethink what community engagement looks like in practice. It cannot just be treated as a procedural step. It is what makes or breaks a community’s trust in our system. Alongside clear decisions, we need real community investment and practical support on the ground.

Take my own community, for example. In my own constituency of Dublin Mid-West, particularly in Saggart, but also in Lucan, Clondalkin, Brittas and Palmerstown, people have been decent and compassionate. These communities have been patient and they have been fair. They have done their part. They have more than stepped up. In return, they are asking for something very reasonable, which is for the State to step up too. They want clear communication, proper planning and services that keep pace with population growth - joined-up policy. They know better than any of us what the pressure points are and what supports are needed. We cannot just ask for their feedback and ideas; we need to act on it and respond to it.

Before and since the horrific alleged assault on a young girl in Citywest and the outbreak of deplorable violence, I have been out speaking with local people, business owners and services providers in Saggart. I hear their frustration, worry and upset but I also hear their compassion. The people I speak to do not want division or labels. They just want fairness and information and that is the very least they deserve.

For months I have been raising with the Minister the need for permanent gardaí for Citywest and Saggart. I have raised the need for stronger local supports and I have been working closely with the Minister's engagement team. I have had meeting after meeting and call after call. I have met with residents groups on the ground and brought their feedback to more meetings and calls. Now we need to respond and take action. We need a permanent increase in Garda visibility in Saggart and Citywest, as Councillor Shirley O'Hara and I have continued to advocate for. We need investment in amenities like St. Mary's. We need to make sure resources move in line with population growth. We do not have enough public health nurses or SNAs in the area. We do not have any youth service. Those are the kind of real services we could deliver in order to keep up with population growth. That is what the residents, businesses, education providers and sports clubs I engage with want. It is a very reasonable ask of the Saggart Village Residents Association. No one is asking for things they do not deserve or for special treatment; they are asking for what is fair and just.

Local people were appalled and frightened by the violence and disruption brought to the community in recent weeks. They are still being impacted because the onsite gym and restaurant in Citywest remain closed on foot of Garda advice. Over 3,000 paid-up members are missing gym sessions. These are small things but they matter to people's quality of life and morale. People just want to be heard on this. We need trust in the system maintained.

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