Facilities for youth are lacking

THERE is a severe lack of youth amenities in many rural parts of the constituency according to SINN Féin TD and General Election candidate for Sligo/ Leitrim Martin Kenny.

He said any incoming government must address this issue because rural isolation and youth mental health are linked issues and investment and support was required to tackle them.

“In some rural parts of my constituency the issue of isolation and a lack of outlets for young people had been raised on the doorsteps. The point has been made that, unless a boy or girl is involved in GAA, there is often nowhere to go.

“Parents are concerned about children who may spend a lot of time on their XBox or Playstation and what effect this may have on the development of social skills. From talking to people there is an amount of anxiety out there.

“Many parts of Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo and South Donegal are rural with a scattered population. This can have an impact on how young people interact and engage with each other. Volunteers within the community do fantastic work for our young people. Without them, we’d be lost altogether.

“However, we can’t rely solely on the local GAA club to provide a social outlet to young people. We also can’t leave young people with the pub as the only other option.

“There is often nowhere for teenagers to meet and socialise, whether cafés or youth clubs. There are few shops in many areas and no cinemas.

“Teenagers in particular need a place where they can be