Hopes Minister’s Ballagh visit will lead to pilot initiative to address social challenges

There are hopes that this morning’s visit to Ballaghaderreen by Junior Minister for Health, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, will lead to a pilot initiative to address social challenges in the town.

During her visit, the Minister, who has special responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, will meet representatives from several organisations, including the Northwest Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force and local Family Resource Centres.

Fine Gael Senator Gareth Scahill said the meeting with local stakeholders would allow the Minister to get an understanding of community experiences in the town.

He hoped that the discussions could lead to a pilot initiative involving interventions aimed at addressing some of the local social challenges.

“I’d love to see a pilot initiative. There is a youth crime problem in Ballaghaderreen, backed up by the statistics. Youth crime and drugs are huge in communities at the moment but no-one is talking about it. And we have already highlighted the lack of Gardaí.

“I would hope that when the Minister is publishing the national drugs strategy in quarter one of next year, we might see educational and social inclusion initiatives to help turn people away from that avenue (crime and drugs).

“I hope that Ballaghaderreen can be looked on favourably
when she is publishing the national drugs strategy,” he said.

Pointing out that Ballaghaderreen was a broad community in terms of multiple nationalities, Senator Scahill believed local representatives at the meeting with the Minister would be looking for inclusion supports in many areas to help groups on the ground.

The senator said that he and other public representatives, Deputy Martin Daly (FF), Cllr Michéal Frain (Ind), Cllr Liam Callaghan (FG) and Cllr Sean Moylan (FF) were all working together to help secure the necessary supports for Ballaghaderreen.

Minister Murnane O'Connor is also visiting Roscommon Town in the afternoon where she will meet a variety of organisations and groups at Roscommon County Council's headquarters.