Ciarán Cannon (Fine Gael)

Increasingly so. I recall a speech made in 2006 by the Taoiseach on the future of community and volunteerism. He stated:

I believe that the quality of life in society and the ultimate health of our communities depend on the willingness of people to become involved and active. Happy the society that has people who act. Happy the society which has people who organise rather than complain, who accept a personal responsibility rather than walk by on the other side, those people who act rather than lament.

A significant number of those who choose to organise rather than complain were standing outside Leinster House yesterday evening complaining that they were not being allowed to do so and that the funding which allowed them to do so was being withdrawn. The cuts imposed in the budget are trickling towards community development and youth projects. To withdraw such funding at this time is appallingly short-sighted. I was told by those present that the level of investment, predominantly in the north inner city, was in the order of €12 per week per young person. That is a wise long-term investment that should pay significant dividends in the future. I remember reading an article in The Irish Times last August and I retained a quote from one such young person who was operating from Summerhill in the north inner city. He stated:

I wanted to give something back. There is a stereotype that people my age are not into volunteering, but my friends say to me "fair play" ... Young people can get into trouble around here, with stuff like drugs, vandalism, joyriding. But it is not just getting young people off the street, it is teaching them new skills ... I get a lot of praise in school now. It has changed my attitude, I am much more reasonable ... I think I would like to go to college and become a full-time youth worker.

That is the real long-term value to be achieved in continuing to invest in our young people.