Cabinet Committees
Dail Éireann — 2025-11-12
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Catherine Ardagh (FF), Dublin South-Central

Today I am calling for a dedicated south inner city initiative to tackle growing levels of antisocial behaviour and community decline across Dublin's south inner city, including our suburbs. If the Taoiseach drives or walks through parts of the south city, he will see young men dressed in beautiful clothing, riding scooters and, much of the time, delivering drugs for the various drug gangs. It is very important we divert these young men away from a life of crime and a life of drugs. To do that, we need targeted investment, co-ordinated supports and visible policing to restore safety and confidence in our communities. We need investment not just in education but in sports facilities, especially in our inner city.
In the south inner city between the Liffey and the canal, we do not even have one full-sized sports pitch at present. It is an absolute disgrace. Children have to leave their communities in order to play a game of football or soccer. I ask the Taoiseach to make this a priority.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-11-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-11-12