Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join with my colleagues in expressing my admiration for Síofra O'Leary. Members of this House have congratulated her. It is great to have the insight that her father worked here. It brings us even closer to her. I congratulate her.

I add to what Senator Flynn said about the videos circulating on social media. The ramming of a Garda car anywhere in the country is disgraceful. These are kids who have been abandoned and neglected by us. These communities do not just need more resources, although obviously more resources are welcome. There is a cultural and socioeconomic aspect to this. We need a deep dive into how we can support and help communities more. Many structures are already in place. Some are supported, but some are not. I know my colleague, Senator Ruane, has called for a citizens' assembly on drugs. While it is not as simple as having a citizens' assembly on drugs, that would provide a deep dive into our communities and how drugs affect families, communities, housing and education. It would also look at addiction issues. We need to go back to what is causing these problems. It is not just drugs, but also education.

When the DEIS programme was originally set up, it was set up to combat social deprivation in our cities. I welcome the recent expansion of DEIS to rural areas, but I think that we might have lost sight of what DEIS was actually about. It was about giving kids an equal playing field. It is great that rural areas and other areas in Dublin have got DEIS status. It has lost the focus that was there when DEIS was originally established. We need to go back to our education system and see what supports we can give our young people. No one can decide exactly where to live. Obviously, we would all love to live in a big palace with every support possible, which is not possible. We do not choose where we are born. These children are not affected by additional issues. They are affected by addiction, poor housing and a bad education system. The Government can do something to give them a better education. My message is that we should look at DEIS. I would appreciate if that could be brought back to the Minister.