Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ar son Fhine Gael, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Collins, chuig an Seanad chun an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé - conas is féidir linn daoine óga a atreorú ó ghníomhaíocht choiriúil. Ó toghadh mé chuig an Teach seo i mí Feabhra, tá an-chuid seanfhocal cloiste againn ó Sheanadóirí éagsúla, agus go minic bíonn an-chiall ag baint leo. Is iad an dá cheann a sheasann amach dom agus a théann go mór i bhfeidhm orm ná "mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí" agus "tús maith leath na hoibre". Is fíor an dá sheanfhocal seo nuair a smaoinímid ar dhaoine óga nach mbíonn an t-ádh leo túis mhaithe a bheith acu sa saol, agus go háirithe nuair a smaoinímid ar pháistí a thagann ó theaghlaigh nó ó phobail a mbíonn míbhuntáistí ag baint leo. Gan amhras ar bith, is ceart agus is cóir breis airgid agus acmhainní a chur ar fáil do thionscnaimh agus scéimeanna atá dírithe ar dhaoine óga a bhfuil an chabhair riachtanach seo is mó ag teastáil uathu. I was heartened to hear all of what the Minister of State had to say in his opening statement. I absolutely agree with Senator Gallagher that it was one of the most positive contributions we have heard in this House.

In my community in Ballincollig in Cork, we have seen the fruits of a collaborative community approach. We are fortunate to have two superb community gardaí in Anthony McSweeney and Paddy Casey, who, along with Sergeant Jim Morrissey and our juvenile liaison officer, Liam Linehan, are very much in tune with the needs of young people throughout our community, in particular those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds or complex or difficult family situations.

Our local community gardaí, along with local volunteers, are also directly involved in the organisation of under-12 inter-estate soccer leagues, which help to build public confidence and trust among young people in An Garda Síochána and community leaders and activists. It is vital that the role of sport continues to be recognised and investment continued in future Government strategies and initiatives.

The preventative rather than interventionist approach is also at the core of the work carried out by Youthreach in our community. Our Youthreach co-ordinator, Karen Hogan, emphasises the importance of the development of life skills in helping to build confidence and empowering young people with whom they work. These are often the people who feel they do not fit in with mainstream community organisations, schools and clubs and are looking beyond these for the help and support they need to reach their potential.

Like Senator Comyn, I also commend our family resource centres. We are very fortunate to have a superb family resource centre in Ballincollig, which, with the additional financial support that has been provided, is now in the position to provide the likes of one-to-one counselling and child psychology, which is of enormous help to people in our community.

The importance of youth diversion projects in our communities, as emphasised by the Minister of State, cannot be overstated. Several of these operate in Cork. The Minister of State is scheduled to visit various youth diversion projects around the country. These visits are vital, crucial and important to understanding exactly what is involved in projects and initiatives that have life-changing, meaningful and tangible results. Visits to the youth diversion projects in Cork would be greatly appreciated and I would welcome the opportunity to accompany the Minister of State should such visits be organised.

At the heart of all of the issues raised in the debate today is funding - the need for increased funding for community initiatives, sports, youth clubs and additional gardaí. Youth justice funding, as the Minister of State alluded to, increased in last year’s budget and is now more than €36 million, which is very welcome. I believe, however, that there is broad agreement in the House that it should be increased again in this year’s budget. The difference this funding makes to the young people most at risk of engaging in criminal activity cannot be overstated. As the Minister of State comprehensively outlined, there is impactful work being done in youth justice and it needs to be better resourced. With more funding, much more can be done. One area that is hugely important is the implementation of diversion-based responses to young adults in the 18 to 24 bracket, as the Minister of State alluded to in his opening remarks. Once a person turns 18, it does not automatically mean they do not need youth justice interventions and it is important this cohort is not ignored or overlooked.

Mar a dúirt mé i dtosach, mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. Young people should be helped to reach their potential and should be empowered to take the life choices that best fit for themselves as individuals to prevent them from falling into a life of crime. The Government’s approach must continue to be one that is aimed at preventing young people from coming into contact with the criminal justice system and that encourages them to positively engage with their own communities. Such an approach is the route to stronger and safer communities.