Call for more youth services in council estates to counter anti-social behaviour in Fingal
Councillors said more space for young people could also help prevent school dropout rates
Councillors in Fingal are calling for more youth services in council estates and community centres to tackle anti-social behaviour.
A motion from Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart councillor Breda Hanaphy calling for purpose-built youth services in the county was unanimously passed by Fingal County Council (FCC).
“Despite the size and population of Dublin 15, we only three areas that have facilities for youth services,” said Cllr Hanaphy.
“Look at Mulhuddart for example, the new council estate has no facilities for the youth – what is needed is a safe space in time for when schools close where children can go in the evenings and feel secure with their friends.”
However, FCC’s Director of Housing and Community Development, Paul Carroll, said the provisions are not under the council’s annual budget.
“FCC does a huge lot in facilitating youth services in a huge number of locations – but the provisions are not within council’s remit,” said Mr Carroll.
"There’s no funding within our annual budget – but we can do everything we can to work with the providers of housing and in terms of infrastructure.”
Corina Johnston, councillor for Rush and Lusk, said young people in her area had been struggling with mental health and overall wellbeing.
“This year, 22 youths from my area have been referred to youth services. And this will number will increase if we don’t see youth services all across Fingal,” she said.
“We have a very young population in Donabate – we’re seeing an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area. These are good children with nothing to do, so they’re getting involved in anti-social behaviour.
"If they don’t get support from a very young age, they will turn to drugs, alcohol and serious crime.”
Explaining her motion, Cllr Hanaphy said that dedicated services could be a preventative measure to help reduce socialise isolation and help focus on their mental health.
She added that early-intervention programmes could help deal with challenges like school dropout rates, unemployment and antisocial behaviour.
"We have nothing in Howth, Sutton, Portmarnock or Malahide – we don’t have a space where children who don’t enjoy organised sports and enjoy arts or music can go,” said Cllr Joan Hopkins who represents Fingal East.
“We really owe it to the young people in Fingal – for every time we let them down and we give out about their hanging around and being ‘up to something’, we need to give them a place to go. Somewhere that’s safe and funded by us.”