Longford voters voice upset at lack of youth facilities

The provision of facilities for youths in their late teens could improve the feeling of safety to elderly people, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh was told on her canvassed of  the public in Longford town.

The observation was made by a staff member at Cara Allcare Pharmacy on the town's Main Street.

“When you have groups of youths hanging around outside the chemist, it can unnerve people, it can turn them off coming in, and that is a loss of business,” the staff member told the MEP when the politician paid a visit to shops in the town.

Ms Walsh, along with fellow Fine Gael party members Senator Michéal Carrigy and FG council hopeful Niall Gannon, had been asking what the most pressing issues were for local businesses.

“What is lacking?” Senator Carrigy asked.

“You see gangs of young people walking around the town, because they have nowhere else to go and nothing else to do,” the staff members said.

Mr Gannon agreed, adding that it was an issue he was aware of, as he has children of that age, he works with schools and acknowledged it was repeatedly coming up on his canvasses of the estates in Longford town.

Senator Carrigy said he would initiate a dialogue with Longford Community Resources, Longford Youth Service and the ETB about a possible resolution.

Ms Walsh queried if the issue was one of “bricks and mortar” or if it was something else.

“It's really about having something to do for the young people,” the staff member explained.

Senator Carrigy maintained that the issue was not being ignored, pointing to the local skate park, and the development of a sensory playground adjacent to that site.

The role of Foróige, their Attic House project and similar youth community initiative with the local Roma population were all highlighted by the elected representatives.

The issue of increasing the number of disability parking bays, specifically to have one outside the pharmacy, was also broached with the elected representatives.