The House has recently dealt with the problem of combating drug abuse, associated crime and youth crime and we have provided resources for community policing, schools and partnership companies. However, we have failed to provide sufficient funding for youth services and in that regard I make a special plea on behalf of the parishes of Darndale-Belcamp and Kilbarrack-Foxfield St. John. The parish of Darndale-Belcamp is approximately 21 years old with 1,250 houses and approximately 6,000 people. Despite major errors by Dublin Corporation in planning the estate, which has had to be refurbished at significant cost, there is tremendous community spirit and a vibrant tenants' association in the area. The Oblate Order and a number of interested estate management committees, such as the Belcamp Estate Steering Committee, have set up in the area.
The Darndale-Belcamp youth service which has operated for the past 20 years is badly in need of funding. Two youth workers provide a wide range of activities for children from four to 19 years, but they must share a centre with a FÁS workshop which greatly restricts their hours of activity. While they have approximately 30 voluntary helpers, the need for more full-time staff in a parish with so many young people is self evident.
The youth service wishes to build a new centre at a cost of between £250,000 and £1 million that would include a drop-in centre, cafe, indoor sports hall and a car workshop, which they believe would be of great benefit. Those two youth workers have done tremendous work in helping to alleviate some of the problems in the area, including joyriding, and I make a special plea to the Minister on their behalf.
The second parish I want to make a plea for is that of Kilbarrack-Foxfield, an older one. In some areas of it there is up to 30 per cent unemployment without any facilities whatsoever for youth. There are some excellent local residents associations, including a socio-economic one called Obair but no facility for the children. At a well publicised, televised meeting on an estate in that parish on drug abuse children complained there was not even a disco they could attend.
While accepting that the Minister of State, Deputy Allen, represents Cork North-Central, he must realise that in most urban areas, perhaps including his, north and west Dublin — there is a representative from Dublin West present — Limerick and so on there is a desperate need for the provision of such facilities for youth.
Like my constituents I become very angry when I see national lottery funds being allocated to exclusive golf clubs, or very wealthy areas in which there are such recreational facilities.
