Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Fitzpatrick's comments. This issue is becoming extremely prevalent on our streets in all the towns and villages. Going home from Dublin on a Friday evening, I used to notice the large numbers of youths out with drink and so on. You need only have watched "Claire Byrne Live" last night to see images that are replicated in every single town around the country. I am a firm advocate of the recently established community safety partnerships. There have been three, including a pilot in my own county of Waterford and another in inner city Dublin. That is the way forward. We must work together. Antisocial behaviour is a serious issue. The vast majority of this is being carried out by young teenagers. When I was a young teenager, my parents - God rest them - did not let me out and about like that. Parents must take more responsibility. Councillor Liam Galvin was on the programme last night and said that parents need to take more responsibility, particularly for kids aged under 16. Something such as fixed fines should be put in place for situations in which children stray like that. Something has to be put in place to ensure more care is taken. I agree with the comments Councillor Galvin made.

The second issue I will speak about relates to the arts community, for which I am a spokesperson. I met with Mona Considine, the artistic director of the Backstage Theatre in Longford, this morning along with a number of companies which are developing plays for when they can be put on stage, which we hope will be in 2022.It is important that funding in the budget is put in place for the Arts Council for 2022 and this year's funding levels are maintained. In tough times, we have turned to the arts. Companies have worked hard in putting on plays, etc., for people in nursing homes and many other places. We need to ensure we keep that funding in place for 2022.