Sinn Féin TD for Dublin North-West Dessie Ellis has appealed to parents not to buy quads and scramblers this Christmas as Christmas presents for their children.

Deputy Ellis said:

“Despite recent successes by An Garda Síochana in seizing over thirty Quads and Scramblers in recent months in the Finglas area, their illegal use remains a constant danger and anti-social nuisance to the community.

“I urge parents and responsible individuals to consider the effects the illegal use of such vehicles have on their neighbours and their community. Parents should also reflect on the danger to the young people illegally using them on public roads and parks often without helmets or any other safety equipment or even insurance.

“A number of young people have died or have been seriously injured riding quads and scramblers and innocent passers-by have also been injured by the reckless riding of scramblers and quads on roads, footpaths, on greens and in public spaces.

“In some estates and parks the scramblers and quads are out every single day and people, especially the elderly, don’t feel safe walking the streets or taking their dogs out for a walk in the park.

“For many, there is no break for this activity. The noise pollution from the vehicles can run from early in the morning to very late into the night.

“I am asking people to please think before you buy.”

Asking the Taoiseach if I could get a copy of the report that the cross agency committee on quads and scramblers was said to have issued last February. I have asked for this report before without success. I need clarity from the government if such a report was issued and what were its recommendations.

Today I spoke at the Dáil committee on Adolescent Mental Health.  Groups and organisation who made presentations to the committee were the HSE, Jigsaw and CAMHS.

I spoke about a number of important mental health issues affecting our young people and highlighted the lack of local mental health services in Dublin North West.

I emphasised that early intervention is essential and such intervention should begin at primary school level.

I raised under Topical Issues in the Dáil the Ballymun shopping centre site. I empasised to the Minister that the future development of the site should have at its core the idea and philosophy that this site is crucial to making this area once again the heart of the community of Ballymun. Dublin city council should deliver on the promises and aspirations of the Regeneration Project and central to that is making this site once more the centre of a vibrant and growing community.

Today I raised with the Tánaiste in the Dáil a problem in the legislation for those moving from Rent supplement to HAP. The Tánaiste seemed to be unaware of unforseen consequence which are causing big problems for many people and families. If someone is moving from rent supplement to HAP they are often finding that landlords do not want to sign up to HAP and it is also impossible to find another HAP property. So people are left in a situation where the welfare officers are not giving them the rent supplement which means they often owe months of rent and face the possibility of being made homeless.

A small extract from my contribution in the Dáil at the Joint committee on the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands.  The committee for the Ghaelcholáiste for a second level Irish school in Ballymun appeared before the Dáil committee to answer questions and outline their plans for a Ghaelcholáiste in Ballymun as well as a Gaeltacht quarter.

I said there is a hunger for the Irish language in Ballymun and surrounding areas.  There is a big demand for Irish schools in Ballymun as you can see for new Gael scoil Baile Munna in Coultry and also Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch for which there is a great demand.  I told the committee that 16 years ago there was no Irish School in Finglas and at that time there was also a hunger for the Irish Language in Finglas just like Ballymun.  Myself and Seán Ó Donaile the Principal of Scoil Naomh Barra were able to source a building which ultimately became the location for the new Irish School Gaelscoil Ui Earcain which has since grown and developed and is now situated in bigger premises at the former De La Salle school on Glasanaon Road.

Sliocht beag as mo chuid oibre sa Dáil ag an gComhchoiste ar an nGaeilge, an Ghaeltacht agus na hOileáin. Tháinig coiste an Ghaelcholáiste do scoil dara leibhéal Gaeilge i mBaile Munna os comhair choiste na Dála chun ceisteanna a fhreagairt agus a bpleananna do Ghaelcholáiste i mBaile Munna chomh maith le lár ionad Gaeltachta a leagan amach.

Dúirt mé go bhfuil ocras ar an nGaeilge i mBaile Munna agus sna ceantair máguaird. Tá éileamh mór ar scoileanna Gaeilge i mBaile Munna mar a fheiceann tú le Ghaelscoil nua Baile Munna i gCoultry agus Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch a bhfuil éileamh mór air. Dúirt mé leis an gcoiste nach raibh aon Scoil Gaelach 16 bliana ó shin i bhFionnghlas agus ag an am sin bhí ocras don nGaeilge i bhFionnghlas díreach cosúil le Baile Munna. Bhí mé féin agus Seán Ó Donaile, Príomhoide Scoil Naomh Barra, in ann foirgneamh a aimsiú a bhí mar shuíomh don Ghaelscoil Uí Earcain atá tar éis fás agus forbairt ó shin agus tá sí suite anois in foirgneamh níos mó in iar-scoil De La Salle ar Bhóthar Glas an Éin.

The annual report from the Mental Health Commission shows that there is a crisis in mental health services in this country. We need proper funding and resources so that decent and appropriate mental health services can be provided.
It is unacceptable that children under the age of 16 are still being placed in adult services.
Often the services that are available can be poor in quality or have variable standards.
Progress in improving these services has been very slow or has not happened at all.
The existing services are badly funded and they are not responding adequately to the needs either of the children or of their families.
This needs to be urgently addressed by government. There is no health without mental health.

We are still waiting for the cross agency report on quads and scramblers from the committee set up by the government over a year ago.  How long does it take to find a solution to this problem.  The bill I brought to the Dáil in 2018 which would have solved the issue was voted down by Fianna Fáil and the government.  Yet we are still waiting for the government to offer a solution to this major problem.