Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and wish him well in his new role. It is wonderful to have a former Member of this House elevated to a Ministry. I know that during his term he will show this House and Members of this House the utmost respect, because he is a former Member.

I raise the issue of security for all public representatives right across the country. As the Minister of State knows, politics has changed in the past 20 years. Demands on politicians and local representatives have increased dramatically.The pressures and challenges they face, particularly with social media, have been recognised over recent years. There is an obligation on all of us in politics to encourage people to get into politics and serve their communities. One of the biggest challenges we have seen over the past ten years concerns the security and safety of all public representatives. A number of measures introduced in recent years have to be recognised and they have been prioritised by the Government, the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Minister of State's Department. A scheme has been put in place to support Oireachtas Members in securing their homes and offices and to provide security to the staff who work in their offices. This scheme was put in place about three years ago. A sum of €10,000 was available to invest in either one's home or office, and 50% of that could be reclaimed as an Oireachtas Member. A similar scheme was set up for councillors whereby they could spend €5,000 on safety measures in their homes, with 50% of that, or €2,500, reclaimable.

All this could be done only when a crime prevention officer came to visit one's house, produced a report and made recommendations on what needed to be done. That has been welcomed and has been good, but the problem is that the uptake has not been significant. The uptake by Oireachtas Members has not been significant, and the uptake among councillors has certainly not been. As the Minister of State knows, councillors are at the very front of local politics, and their security really matters. When we talk to councillors around the country, we hear that one of the reasons the uptake has not been great is the 50% rebate. Councillors recognise they need to get the works done and increase security for their families and staff working in their offices, but they have different circumstances and financial challenges. Councillors are not paid a lot, so having to pay for something up front if repaid only 50% does not encourage them greatly.

I ask that the Minister of State consider the changes made over recent months for Oireachtas Members whereby the amount they may spend was increased to two and half times the original value. Most important, there is a rebate of 100%. I do not believe for one second that we cannot take seriously the safety of councillors right across the country. We need to give them every opportunity to get into public life and feel as though they can devote themselves to it and contribute. However, most important, we need to ensure they are safe when doing their job.

If we recognise that the measures introduced three years ago were not sufficient for Oireachtas Members, we should also recognise that those introduced for councillors at the exact same time and based on the exact same recommendations, made by the group set up to make recommendations, have not been as successful as the Minister of State and I would like. Deputy Cummins, in his position as Minister of State responsible for local government, should consider this and what can be done to encourage and support councillors and keep them safe.