Mark Duffy
Labour Panel · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I thank the Minister of State for being here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley, and for her detailed reply. While it is disappointing to hear the news here, at least it provides clarity and certainty for the project promoters and, indeed, staff and various stakeholders involved, many of whom have been in touch with me and are really…”
“I call on Bord na Móna, which has powered the community down through the years but is at risk of dividing the community now, to step up and engage effectively with the community. It should not be using community volunteers as a front to push its own agenda.”
“We should not waste people's time or, indeed, taxpayers' money. The waste there of taxpayers' money resides in the fact that resources are going to be spent elsewhere to offer a medium-term solution, while the longer term solution has gone through the procurement, planning and design stages.”
“-----and acknowledge my sister, Councillor Marie-Thérèse Duffy, in the Visitors Gallery? I thank her for being here, for being willing to replace me on Mayo County Council last year and for her support to date. I appreciate it. I also appreciate the achievement of Mayo GAA, which has really united the county.”
“I acknowledge the community in Crossmolina. I attended a public meeting last night that was attended by over 200 people who are very dissatisfied with the proposals by Bord na Móna to build a route around the town of Crossmolina. Crossmolina has a vibrant, active community. There has been a lack of public consultation on this proposal.”
“I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, for being here to discuss this very important topic. I acknowledge the work the staff of Tusla do in County Mayo and across the country in very challenging circumstances and with very vulnerable people. They respond when others cannot and do not.”
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“We have a brilliant modular home developer in County Mayo, namely, Big Red Barn, which creates fabulous, affordable A-rated homes and can help unlock that in back gardens. I would like for us to empower local authorities, whether it is empowering the councillors on zoning; empowering the councillors to use compulsory purchase order on people who are sitting on brownfield and derelict sites, speculating as the crisis further deepens; or empowering councillors as regards making compulsory sale orders so that local authorities can buy houses from property owners who have derelict or disused vacant properties and immediately get them back on the market. I wish the Minister well. I wish him, the State and all of us success in addressing this existential crisis, as he described it.”
“As has been mentioned, we all want the Minister to succeed and we all want to work together on this. It is a real pinch point and sore point for my constituency when we have, in one town alone, more than 500 people on the social housing list and almost 800 people who have identified a desire for affordable homes. Yet, in Mayo, only five affordable houses were delivered in Westport as part of a 50-house social housing project. There are big challenges but there are also big opportunities. I welcome the proposal on modular developments in back gardens, if that is brought through and legislated for. It is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, but we need to empower families, homeowners and property owners who want to be part of the solution, and give people autonomy and independence.”
“It is a bizarre scenario, considering the lands that were dezoned were within walking distance of schools and shops, and more central than other housing estate developments. Can the Minister send a ministerial directive order to zone residential lands where there is capacity with wastewater treatment, the infrastructure in relation to lighting, footpaths and broadband, and the full political will at a local level? Can he send a mistrial directive regarding land that was already zoned residential, with the full support of the local area plan and the county development plan? Is it possible and within his gift to reconsider rezoning this land residential so we can begin to meet the existing needs and demands? That is only one element of a much broader challenge that the Minister has.”
“It was a drastically lower number than it had set its sights on. At local area plan level, we had the full agreement of all six councillors in the Ballina municipal district on land zoning. We had agreement among planners and the plan went forward to the Minister and the Office of the Planning Regulator. This was only a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, all recommendations that were brought forward on this local area plan were rejected and refused, and the original proposal remained. On a local area plan level, councillors are trying their best to deliver, unlock and empower landowners who are ready to break ground. Two parcels of land were zoned residential but have now been dezoned. One has a live planning application for 90 houses, which will now be refused by An Bord Pleanála because the land has unfortunately been dezoned.”
“The Minister is very welcome to the House. I welcome the opportunity to discuss with him the housing crisis that is plaguing every constituency in the country. I will give an anecdotal example from my home town of Ballina, County Mayo. I have spent the past six years as a local councillor in Mayo County Council, working with colleagues across the county to improve housing supply. At every opportunity, we have tried to zone land, empower developers and build homes in our towns, villages and constituencies. At county development plan level, we are told to wait for a local area plan. I sat on the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and, again, at assembly level, we were told to wait for the local area plan. The assembly identified that Mayo was only meeting 30% of its housing output target.”
“I have called on Mayo County Council to initiate an application for funding to repair the pier. We need to work with both the junior and senior Ministers with responsibility for the marine to ensure we have ongoing maintenance. It should not have to be raised to the level of the Seanad or national level for ongoing maintenance plans to be in place. There should be a standardised approach and ongoing support for local authorities to carry out this work on our piers and waterways across County Mayo. I would like this to be raised with the Minister and to have a broader discussion to ensure that we have an ongoing maintenance plan for the safety and usability of piers along our coastline.”
“A matter of concern to many of my constituents in County Mayo is the state of disrepair of the piers and waterways on the Mayo coastline. On Kilcummin pier, there are proposed clearance works. Small fishing boats are unable to dock at the pier because of the storm debris and rocks that need to be cleared. The slipway is in a treacherous state and it is the same for other slipways in the north Mayo area, including those in Ballycastle, Killala, Ballina and Lacken pier. It is really important for fishing industries in these communities, but also for the amenity groups that enjoy our beautiful coastline, that there be safe and usable infrastructure with slipways and piers. There is an ongoing issue with Lacken pier where erosion damage has persisted for some years without repair.”
“It is a discussion we should have in the interests of the hundreds of homeowners affected in Mayo and Donegal, and on the western seaboard generally. I thank the Leader.”
“It causes huge emotional and mental health issues for families and that has a knock-on effect for the children. It also affects elderly homeowners. This is the last thing they need at a later stage in their lives. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to reviewing the scheme and I ask for that to be prioritised. May we have a discussion with the Minister on the issue to hear his views on how this can commence? How can we get input from as many homeowners as possible to ensure they are not faced with the high shortfalls within the scheme in terms of supporting the homeowners? There are also shortfalls with the finances. Many homeowners are still out of pocket and are taking on additional loans and mini mortgages to cover the rehabilitation of their properties.”
“I welcome our friends from the British Embassy who are visiting this afternoon. I look forward to hosting the delegation of visitors from the UK transport committee on Thursday. I wish to raise the issue of defective concrete blocks, particularly the pyrite in my constituency of Mayo, as well as the mica scheme. The issue has devastated so many homeowners along the western seaboard. Within the new programme for Government there is a commitment to a review and expansion of the scheme to allow improved eligibility but also flexibility for different homeowners. It is not one-size-fits-all for this scheme. There needs to be more flexibility and a more intelligent and empathetic approach to homeowners who pay their local property tax, mortgage and house insurance in good faith and have had the devastation of defective blocks hit their homes.”
“There is a great opportunity for the State to invest in and re-energise this incredible facility and asset for the people of Swinford and the general area. It could then be used as a facility for those with disabilities and those who want to use swimming for physical and mental health improvement. I ask that we request the Minister for Health to come in to discuss the Áras Attracta site in Swinford. It is not being used to its full potential at the moment. There are amenities on site. Working alongside Mayo County Council and the community on the ground, this could be a great opportunity to create additional amenities that were there in the past for Swinford, which could also stimulate town centre regeneration and get life and light back into the derelict and vacant properties there.”
“I raise an opportunity in County Mayo. I have spoken regularly on the regeneration of our market towns, bringing life, energy and families back into towns and villages across Ireland, including in my county, Mayo. At the weekend, I attended the launch of the community futures plan for the Killasser-Callow community. There was brilliant energy and vibrancy about community-led proposals for improving the community. It is very much a grassroots-led approach. There is a swimming pool in Swinford, in the periphery of Killasser and Callow, that is owned by the HSE and located on the substantial Áras Attracta site. It was enjoyed as a swimming pool by the community and was used by those with disabilities. It was heated to a few degrees warmer than a traditional amenity pool. It is now lying vacant.”
“It would be most welcome if improvements could be achieved. I thank that Minister of State for giving of his time this evening and allowing us to contribute on such an important matter to our communities. There have been robust contributions. There is a great opportunity to improve safety across the country if local authorities can be empowered and if we can move from planning to action and delivery.”
“However, the delay between a black spot being identified to measures being funded can be up to two years. If a situation needs to be addressed at a pedestrian crossing in January 2025, it may be the end of 2025 before the application is made, the decision may be made in 2026 and it could be the end of 2026 or beyond before it is implemented. More autonomy for engineers in local authorities to allow them to work with councillors could have a really positive effect. Previously in the House, I referred to fatalities that occurred at junctions and pedestrian crossings. A year or more later, there is still no funded delivery for improvements at a particular junction. There is full agreement among councillors and engineers about the need for such improvements. Ironically, the junction in question is located within a safe routes to school area.”
“It is a good model that would not cost local authorities or the State anything. It would involve a net gain because, ultimately, we would have safer roads and safer outcomes for motorists. I welcome the creation of average speed zones. They should be rolled out across the country without local authorities being required to use their resources for that purpose. This would be very much welcomed. Regarding low-cost safety measures, improving infrastructure in our towns and villages is very important in terms of creating solutions. Councillors have their finger on the pulse and know what is a dangerous junction or zone. They are the first to be called when black spots are identified. Low-cost safety measures are sometimes very welcome in terms of the funding model that exists.”
“Instead of funding partial safe routes to school plans, I ask that we fund the full suite of measures to make sure there is a holistic approach to implementation. The Minister of State mentioned cameras that measure average speeds. I passed one today in Mayo. They are very much welcome on routes where there are dangerous junctions, such as on the N5 in Mayo, the N3 in Cavan and the M7. We should grant more autonomy to local authorities to allow the three average speed zones to be rolled out much more widely. The US has a very good model where a private contractor can install these cameras at no cost to either the state or the authority involved, maintain them and collect the receipts from fines incurred from speeding motorists on the stretches of road. This should be looked at.”
“It is a great concept and model where each commuter going to school - be it a teacher or a student - is identified and safety measures are proposed to ensure that he or she has a safe option and route to get to school. It does exactly what it says on the tin. I have seen many instances in my area where safe routes to school plans have been created but have only been partially funded and where only minor measures are funded for each school. This defeats the purpose of what is involved. We need to 100% fund a full safe routes to school plan for each school in order that it is done once and done well rather than done part of a piecemeal approach. This would be very well received and would be a gold standard in terms of road safety measures for those who are most vulnerable, namely schoolchildren.”
“These plans have identified projects to improve road safety, sustainable transport and connectivity in towns and villages across Ireland. However, we need to move from plans, consultants and assessments to the delivery and implementation plans in order that they do not sit on shelves but are actively invested in. There is a degree of frustration at local authority level about this. With regard to the planning and consultation element, towns such as Westport, Castlebar and Ballina in the constituency in County Mayo in which I live have created fabulous local transport plans. These contain safe routes to school, which have been discussed previously and about which I am passionate.”
“I welcome the Minister of State back to the Seanad. It is great that he is here to discuss such an important topic for us all and for communities across the island. Sadly, in 2024, 174 lives were lost on our roads and that is 174 too many. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment to Vision Zero. All of us across the Chamber need to work collectively to achieve and improve safety measures on our roads, and in our neighbourhoods and communities across the country. The Minister of State will be aware that 89% of the pedestrians who are injured are injured on roadways in urban areas. Towns throughout the country have been allocated funding for local transport plans, which was greatly welcomed at the time.”
“The programme can have and has had a transformational and positive effect for communities, but the pound of flesh element needs to be removed. The application process needs to be a much smoother and grassroots-orientated policy which meets the needs of communities. I ask that we do anything we can to bring things closer to communities and reduce the level of bureaucracy. People put a lot of goodwill, time and effort into applications, but then have to come up with an extra 10% in funding while also paying all of the costs upfront before drawing down the money. That puts a huge burden on volunteers and communities that often bridge the gap in delivery we sometimes have in local authorities. I thank the Minister for his time and wish him total success. I thank him for the work he has done and look forward to supporting that into the future.”
“They are paying for short-term loans and interest to bridging companies like Clann Credo which is bridging the gap for community organisations. That puts huge stress and pressure on communities. We need a grassroots approach to LEADER. It should not tick all of the boxes for bureaucrats while making no sense for communities on the ground. It needs to be led from the bottom upwards for community groups. Too much of the programme is caught up in administration in local authorities and local development companies without funding actually getting to the source. That is where the value and bang for buck of the LEADER programme is. There is something of a grey area for local GAA clubs, parish halls or whatever which require a car park to be resurfaced or facilities to be improved.”
“People would need degrees in accountancy, law and bookkeeping just to keep up with LEADER programme applications. The challenge for many community groups and organisations is one I hope can be addressed in the future programme. The level of detail that is required in an application creates a difficulty, whereby 90% of funding is required for a particular project that is allocated. All of the i's need to be dotted and the t's need to be crossed. A lot of volunteerism goes into submitting an application. There is then a requirement for an additional 10% in matched funding and a community group having to pay for everything in advance while it waits for the administration of the remaining funding through a local authority. That is very difficult and can put volunteer committees under huge financial burdens and pressure.”
“I thank Senator Brady for sharing time. I thank the Minister for joining us in the Seanad and congratulate him on his position, work and effort to date. The most important thing that politicians do is listen and he has done a great job of that so far. He has kept his finger on the pulse in terms of the different matters that arise in what is a very challenging portfolio. I would like to highlight the LEADER programme. It has the potential to be a brilliant asset to communities across the country. However, the challenge that exists goes back to what Senator Brady said, namely, community groups leading the regeneration of rural communities and towns and villages across the country. The bureaucracy, difficulty and challenges people face in administering the LEADER programme cannot be overstated.”
“They want a second opinion from expertise in either London or Boston. I have the permission of the family in question to speak but I will not go into the details. I would appreciate if the Minister were able to give it attention. Perhaps we could speak about it more directly offline. Every day, the child is declining in health. The family feel helpless and heartbroken because of the situation. I would love if we could work together to help the child or at least give some hope through a second opinion. Perhaps this Bill could make room for second opinions beyond the internal orbit of the hospital in which a case is being dealt with. I would like to see the opportunity for second opinions, whether from London or Boston, and I would appreciate the Minister's support in that regard. I thank her for giving attention to this issue.”
“The Minister is very welcome, and I thank her for joining us for the discussion on such an important topic for so many vulnerable people. I raise a specific example of an issue regarding scoliosis, which relates to a 16-year-old child in my constituency of Mayo who was born with neurological issues and in 2020 was diagnosed with scoliosis. In 2023, he was examined and identified for surgery. Unfortunately, since then he has not had treatment. He has a 103-degree spine curvature and has all of the identified reasoning for surgery. Unfortunately, the hospital the family has dealt with has decided against surgery. The family themselves are heartbroken with the lack of a second opinion that has been afforded to them. The hospital stated it has a second opinion that has been given but it has been given internally within the hospital setting.”
“I ask that the Minister for communications would address the Seanad to talk about ways we can strongly and forcefully ensure customers of all communications providers and utility services have proper and adequate standards of connectivity throughout the country.”
“It is the same in other parts of Erris and right across County Mayo, and this issue was raised with me by local councillor Gerry Coyle. It goes back to the whole lack of connectivity we have in the area across roadways and along our train lines and bus routes, where there is still substandard and lack of cellular connection and Internet connection. There needs to be a commission set up to address this. To go back to the individual cases, it is totally scandalous that this is allowed to continue and to be dragged on for months, where elderly and vulnerable people are being neglected.”
“I raise the total scandal of Eir and the lack of customer support being afforded to customers throughout the country, but in particular in my constituency of County Mayo. We have examples of customers of Eir who are out of connection since Storm Darragh on 12 December last. We also have numerous elderly customers of Eir who still have not been reconnected since the damage of the storm. It is a total scandal that this is allowed to continue in this day and age and that customers are left without any Internet connection. It needs to be addressed. We need to have strong oversight and implementation of customer care to ensure customers are not left without connectivity. We have one example of an elderly lady living alone in Belmullet. She is 93 years of age and is still without a connection.”
“Boundary walls could be affected or work on a semi-detached house might not be able to proceed because of an issue with the neighbouring home. Myriad issues need to be addressed. We need to put the homeowner at the centre of this and work back from there. I ask that we engage and deal with this matter head on and deliver for all these affected homeowners and communities who have been devastated by the scourge of pyrite and mica in defective concrete blocks.”
“I raise a matter that has been, politically, incredibly pressing over the past number of years in counties Mayo, Donegal and Sligo. That is the issue of defective concrete blocks. In my home county of Mayo hundreds of homeowners are affected. It has been the scourge of their lives and has brought financial and mental health challenges to every homeowner who has been negatively impacted by it. There is a commitment in the programme for Government for a review of the scheme. I ask that we bring the Minister for the housing in to provide an update on how he plans to move forward with this review. As matters stand, improved supports have been provided. The system needs to be much more flexible to suit the needs of each individual homeowner, however, because every situation is different.”
“We have been begging and pleading for something to be done. What more needs to be done too move to the stage of actual action? I ask that we invite the Minister for Transport to discuss this issue. It is another example of centralised systems within TII, in that a tragedy has happened but it takes years for action even thought there is full agreement among councillors, engineers and staff on the ground on the urgent need to improve safety at this junction. I ask that there be urgent action taken on this and that, in general, we have more functions devolved from TII to local authorities to allow them to improve safety for communities and neighbourhoods across the country. I will take this opportunity to thank the Moyles family for working with me on raising this issue in memory of James.”
“I want to raise a matter that is close to the heart of the community in my home constituency of Ballina. It is now more than a year since a tragedy occurred at a pedestrian crossing on the Crossmolina road. There was a fatality but a life was also saved thanks to the heroism of James Moyles, who protected his niece from tragedy. This has been raised continuously by councillors at a local council level. We have been pleading with TII for an assessment to be carried out and for the junction to be made safe. This also ties in with a neighbourhood that has been identified for a safe routes to school project. We have had consultant after consultant, plan after plan and talk after talk but zero action on the road to improve safety. One life has already been lost at a really dangerous junction.”
“We need to bring semi-States like Uisce Éireann, the ESB and Eir within the orbit of local authorities so councillors on the ground can solve it. Local decisions should not be escalated into Deputies and Senators' responsibilities.”
“It is disgraceful and goes back to the lack of local representation and input from councillors on the ground to connect with semi-State bodies. The regulator needs to look at that. Fire stations in County Mayo were not even placed on standby, meaning the personnel and crew of one station alone had to travel through the night and the storm from nine different locations in response to calls as opposed to being based in the station ready to respond to call-outs. That put lives at risk. There should be a direct learning from that so that, when there is a red alert, crews are on standby in the station. We need to put our local representatives back at the centre of this so they can respond immediately. It took days and days for things to escalate.”
“I welcome the Minister of State and thank the front-line personnel throughout the country who responded very quickly to the extreme weather event that affected so many. I offer condolences to Kacper Dudek's family on his tragic passing and on the illnesses and bereavements caused by the storm. If ever there was a case for local government reform, Storm Éowyn has demonstrated it. The orbits of the ESB and Uisce Éireann need to be interlinked with local government and councils. They cannot be operating in silos. We need policies based on working for the common good and the common interest, including getting water or electricity back to homes across the country. Eir has an awful lot to answer for. Across my constituency of Mayo, we still have homes without phone or Internet services.”
“I am speaking with the permission of the family. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his contribution. The situation they are asking to be highlighted and addressed relates to a second opinion. Crumlin children's hospital has stated that it cannot operate on Mike Henry. The family is desperate for a second opinion. I am asking that we write to the Minister for Health so we can discuss the matter. I am making representations offline. I am asking that we fight for Mike Henry in this difficult situation for his family. All they want is a second opinion other than the assessment of those in Crumlin children's hospital. They are seeking a second opinion from abroad, perhaps from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children or specialists in the US. I ask that we write to the Minister on the issue. I will do whatever I can to support this family.”
“I raise a matter that is close to my heart. I met constituents on Monday, the parents of Mike Henry Benson. He was diagnosed with scoliosis. His parents, Penny and Michael, have been battling for their son in recent years, seeking to have the case heard and to get adequate treatment. Mike Henry has neurological impairment, scoliosis and type 2 respiratory failure. He is on oxygen every day and by night is on respiratory support.”
“The €3 million investment in County Mayo is paltry compared with the €290 million invested across the country. The €3 million for Mayo is not enough. It is not good enough and needs to be improved drastically. We need transformative projects, transformative safe routes to school investment, so that each child, each student and each teacher who goes to school has a safe route and a safe corridor to connect him or her safely, not small measures to keep people quiet. We need action and delivery in an ambitious way. I ask that the Minister of State prioritise this and make sure that we have action on these issues.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I welcome the commitments for funding and prioritisation of the investment in both the N26 and N58. They need to be prioritised and kept on the table and we need a whole-of-Government approach to make sure that these are delivered as soon as possible. More specifically, in respect of the local transport plan for Ballina, we need to see action, not bureaucracy and not consultant after consultant. Simple things, such as traffic lights needing to be replaced, took years to be delivered, causing frustration and backlogs within the town. Simple things, such as changing traffic flows and changing flows around the two bridges in the town and improvement in investment in infrastructure in orbital routes to improve congestion, need to be given proper attention and proper investment locally.”
“The engineers on the ground need to move quickly but the TII needs to empower local decision-makers, councillors and the local community to allow us to act to improve the desperate traffic situation that plagues towns like Ballina and others in County Mayo with similar settings. We need to work with the people on the ground and we need to address these issues.”
“This model for safe routes to school is supposed to be all encompassing and transformative in one go, not itty-bitty investments to keep people quiet. I ask the Minister of State that, when we invest in safe routes to school, we prioritise transformational projects that address a full school route and area in totality, not just as itty-bitty projects. Last night and as we speak, traders and shopkeepers from the Ballina community have been meeting and continue to advocate and campaign for improvements in connectivity, the dire need for investment in an orbital route and improvements and changes to traffic flows within the town.”
“In Mayo, we had Westport, Castlebar and Ballina creating local transport plans. We were told these plans would be the bibles from which engineers would cherry-pick projects and deliver them. We have seen zero delivery on any of the projects identified under the local transport plans. Consultants have been paid and overpaid for their work and we still do not have projects. A good example of expertise and consultant work regarding active and sustainable travel is the safe routes to school initiative. We have brilliant proposals under this model that would improve safety and connectivity for students and teachers travelling to and from school. Unfortunately, investment from the Department in these projects has been paltry, to say the least.”
“I ask the Minister of State to prioritise this matter and communicate with his departmental officials the imperative need for this road to be upgraded to a national standard for the sake of safety alone. The large number of HGVs, cars and buses that use this route every day are constantly in jeopardy because of the poor condition of the road. Similarly, the N58 connecting Foxford to Bellavary, which is the spine that interlinks the north and south of County Mayo, is in desperate condition and requires investment. On a more local level, when I was sitting as a councillor in Mayo County Council three or four years ago, the local transport plans were rolled out. These were identified as the silver bullet to sort all improvements at a local level in communities and neighbourhoods in large towns.”
“I welcome the Minister of State back to the Seanad and thank him for making the time to discuss this issue with me. Investment in road infrastructure in the areas I represent in Mayo has been underwhelming, to say the least. For the past three decades, we have been campaigning and advocating for investment for the upgrade of the N26. It is an incredibly busy roadway with thousands of motorists commuting on it every day, but it has had little or no investment over three decades. It is the gateway to the north west and connects Ballina to Foxford, on to Swinford and into the main arteries connecting to Dublin. It is one of the last remaining roadways in the country that has such a volume of traffic but has not received any investment.”
“It is disgusting and is not positive from any point of view. It has so many antisocial knock-on effects, so the Minister should do whatever he can do within his power. There is a loophole that vaping and candy can be advertised and sold together on high streets. Some of these are heritage streets. It is totally out of kilter in terms of what we are trying to do about town regeneration. If the Minister has powers and means within his office and Ministry to address that, it would be most welcome across the board. I would really welcome his consideration of that and if he could put some effort into this issue because this is brought up at grassroots level and by councillors right across the country. It would be really welcome if this issue was addressed.”
“Passive surveillance is such a brilliant way of tackling and addressing crime and antisocial behaviour in towns and villages. There needs to be a conversation around that between the Department of Justice and the Department of local government and housing to make sure there are regulations that encourage over-the-shop developments and that there is deregulation to allow for that but that they are safety conscious from a fire point of view. It is powerful to have people on the ground, monitoring and keeping an eye on the town centre, so that it is not quiet and dead in the evening but that there is activity and vibrancy. My final point concerns the proliferation of vaping shops in towns and villages across the country. There are multiple examples in County Mayo of vapes and candy being sold together.”
“In Ballina, if gardaí want access to CCTV, they have to go to the county council, as the data controller, to retrieve footage and video evidence. That does not make sense and we need to have a ministerial directive, or something else, that cuts through that in the interest of the common good and public safety. A council building could be closed on a bank holiday Monday and a crime could be committed on Friday night but gardaí would have to wait until Tuesday morning to access footage. That does not make sense in any world or any walk of life and I ask the Minister to look into that issue. Another opportunity is town and village regeneration. There is still dereliction and vacancy right across the country. It is still not being dealt with.”
“From an elected member's point of view, the second matter is the role of joint policing committees. I know changes have been proposed but it is really important from a local democracy point of view that the decision-making, interaction and orbit of the Garda remains as close as possible to the county councillors and elected representatives on the ground. As representatives we are, and councillors are, the touchpoint for the community on the ground and the elected members and the gardaí need to be interlinked. It can only be a net gain for communities. When preparing for my contribution, I wrote a note about data control and Senator Keogan raised this issue as well. The system in place does not make sense.”
“There is nothing better than a garda in a community policing role who is conscious of Mary who lives on her own two miles out of town and who may need something, such as presence and visitation. Given the number of community gardaí in Mayo who are fabulous at their jobs and do them so well, I ask the Minister to consider expanding that model and rolling it out as much as possible to every town, village and community because it has such a positive effect. Even from intelligence gathering on crime or petty crime, although not even petty crimes but larger scale crimes that are committed, community police are on the ground every day and are picking up information that can be fed back while also showing the presence of the force right across the community.”
“I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I welcome the Minister and thank him for his contributions last week and this afternoon. My experience of policing in County Mayo has been very positive. I served on Mayo County Council over the past six years and the model I found most effective and efficient in terms of being close to the people and gardaí being the guardians of the peace on the ground was the community policing model in the towns of Castlebar, Westport, and Ballina where I am from. The community policing model is brilliant in multiple ways. It is the touchpoint for the gardaí on the ground, whether it is touching base with the shops to keep an eye on crime, being visible on the streets or in relation to rural isolation.”