Rose Conway-Walsh: Calls for Permanent Youth Centre in Akla
Rose Conway-Walsh welcomed students and teachers from Coloshto Pobla Akla and pressed the government on a severe shortage of youth facilities in Akla, calling for a permanent youth centre and more investment in rural youth services. She also raised the case of Nisha Murray and urged the Minister for Justice to consider additional Gardaí powers to address dangers and vulnerabilities.
Welcome to students from Coloshto Pobla Akla
Rose Conway-Walsh opened by welcoming pupils and teachers from Coloshto Pobla Akla, noting she met with them the previous Sunday and praised the marvellous work they do. She acknowledged that Deputy Dara Killeri would also wish to welcome the group.
Call for a permanent youth centre in Akla
She described Akla as "one of the most beautiful places in the world" but highlighted a severe shortage of facilities for young people and called for a permanent home and a permanent youth centre. Her core question to the government was what importance it places on facilities for young people, particularly in rural areas.
Government commitment and partnerships for youth facilities
Rose Conway-Walsh said the government can work with "either leader or county councils and the state" to provide good-quality youth centres, noting some parts of the country have done better than others. She said the government is committed to partnerships to deliver quality facilities and referenced that Tola had recently visited a fine centre.
Safety concerns and Nisha Murray's case
She raised the Nisha Murray case and said she would speak to the Minister for Justice about it. She warned of issues, dangers and vulnerabilities and suggested that additional Gardaí powers might act as a deterrent even if they were never used.
Upcoming meetings referenced
Rose Conway-Walsh noted that Deputy Dara Killeri is expected to meet with Faroiga next week, indicating follow-up and ongoing engagement on the issues raised.
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I want to welcome the students and teachers from Coloshto Pobla Akla here today and I know Deputy Dara Killeri would want to do likewise. And while we're on the subject of Akla, you know it's one of the most beautiful places in the world, there is a severe shortage of facilities for young people, a youth centre. They need a permanent home, a permanent youth centre. I met with them last Sunday. They do marvellous work. That is the question. My question is, what importance is this government putting on facilities for young people, particularly young people in rural areas? Thank you. May I also welcome the students from Pobla and in the context of facilities. Yes, I think there is. I think working with either leader or county councils and the state, we can provide good quality youth centres. I've been in different parts of the country where some have done it better than others. And I think Tola has been recently in some fine centre there. So yes, I think government is very committed and interested in doing that and getting partnerships together to provide good quality facilities. And also, I know Deputy Killeri will be meeting with Faroiga I think next week as well. But Nisha Murray's case, I will talk to the Minister for Justice. You are absolutely correct. There are issues here, dangers, vulnerabilities, and if the Gardaí could have additional powers, they might act as a deterrent. They might never have to use them if people knew the powers were there in the first instance. So I look and suggest that the Minister for Justice.
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