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Dublin Live
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Dublin Live
Dublin driving test centre reaches 'disgraceful' 43-week wait
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Learner drivers are currently facing a 43-week wait for a test in Tallaght. As of the end of April, the backlog at the test centre had risen to 20,442. This is up 1,555 from the end of 2024. The waiting time for a test at the centre is now 43 weeks, compared to 26 at the end of last year. Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward said the waiting times are "shocking" and "disgraceful". "This is far beyond the statutory minimum of 10 weeks," he said. 'It is unacceptable that waiting times have been allowed to increase so much over such a short period of time. 'I have repeatedly raised this issue with government calling for an additional driving test centre to be opened in South Dublin. Even though the RSA have said that they will be placing a new test centre in South Dublin , there is no urgency. 'In February Sinn Féin brought forward a Private Member's Bill, offering a range of measures to tackle the huge backlog. While the government did not oppose our motion, they certainly have ignored it ever since allowing waiting times and numbers to skyrocket." Mr Ward said there needs to be "urgency from both the government and the RSA" on the issue. "People rely on being able to drive for their education, employment, access to healthcare and everything in between," he said. 'I am calling on the government to urgently implement Sinn Féin's proposals which include increased resourcing to meet demand, expediting and increasing the recruitment of driving test instructors, and plugging the gaps in driving test centre locations. 'The government has a long way to go to getting this right. The new test centre in South Dublin will be much needed step in the right direction.' Dublin Live has contacted the Road Safety Authority for comment. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
ITV News
07-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
'A lifetime of pain and grief': Victim of infected blood scandal on delay in government action
Mark Ward contracted HIV and Hepatitis C when he was 14 after being treated with contaminated blood products in what became known as the infected blood scandal.
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Disappointment as Neilstown Shopping Centre improvement plans put on hold
Plans to upgrade the lights, car park, and general appearance of the shopping centre, are not included in the District Centre Enhancement scheme. Mark Ward, Sinn Fein TD for Dublin Mid-West, has expressed his disappointment at the news. 'I am extremely disappointed that plans to enhance Neilstown Shopping Centre have been put on hold,' Mr Ward said. 'A budget of €2m had been allocated for the District Centre Enhancement scheme, which will see South Dublin County Council make improvements to four shopping centres by 2025. 'Neilstown was to be included in this programme. 'South Dublin County Council held an informal meeting in February with several shop owners to try and resolve some of the maintenance issues. 'At this meeting, there was a discussion on a wider enhancement scheme and there is good support for it. 'South Dublin County Council said it listened to the shop owners, but unfortunately does not have the staff resources available to commit to an extensive public consultation and design process it feels the scheme merits. 'This is extremely disappointing to shop owners and customers.' South Dublin County Council informed Mr Ward it is prioritising resources to the Clondalkin Local Area Plan over Neilstown. 'Speaking with locals, they saw this as a chance to upgrade the lights, the car park and the general appearance of the shopping centre,' he said. 'According to the council, the objective is to create places that enhance pedestrian and cycle connections, provision of common areas, and creation of vibrant, distinctive places. 'Neilstown Shopping Centre also has community facilities like the youth service, community centre, GP, and support services. 'It was very welcome to see works starting on the Bawnogue Shopping Centre and the residents in north Clondalkin felt Neilstown was next. 'South Dublin County Council informed me it is prioritising resources to the Clondalkin Local Area Plan over Neilstown. 'This plan is some way off and I will be working with my colleague Cllr Niamh Fennell to have resources put into Neilstown, so shop owners and residents get the shopping centre they deserve.' The Irish Independent has contacted South Dublin County Council for comment.
The Journal
30-04-2025
- Health
- The Journal
TDs calls for government to strictly regulate sale of 'laughing gas'
A TD IS calling on the government to strictly regulate the sale of nitrous oxide, often referred to as 'laughing gas'. Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward is introducing legislation to the Dáil today that, if passed, would limit the sale of nitrous oxide to commercial uses only. The Sale of Nitrous Oxide and Related Products Bill 2025 would prohibit the sale of nitrous oxide and related products to anyone under the age of 18. It would also give powers to gardaí to seize nitrous oxide products from anyone without the necessary licences. 'You only have to walk through any park or housing estate in Dublin and beyond and you will see discarded nitrous canisters,' said Ward in a statement released today. 'When I first noticed them in my area, they were small singular one-use canisters, known locally as 'silver bullets'. Over time this has changed to large industrial sized canisters, known as fast gas. These large canisters are sold on the street.' Ward said that 'unscrupulous dealers' and manufacturers are 'making vast profits from the sale of nitrous oxide' and that the gas is being 'marketed towards children'. Advertisement 'Young people are playing Russian roulette when they use this gas. Inhaling Nitrous Oxide cuts off oxygen to the brain resulting in lightheaded and giddy affects. This is where the name laughing gas comes from, but let me tell you, laughing gas is no laughing matter,' he said. In 2023, a report by the HSE's Adolescent Addiction Service in west Dublin said that 22% of the teenagers using its service said they had taken nitrous oxide on occasion, which was a 175% increase compared to the year before. It was the third highest substance used after cannabis and alcohol. The effects of using nitrous oxide can include sensory issues like a numbness in the hands and feet, issues with balance, heart rate problems, and poor mental health.. Ward said there has also been an increase in young people presenting for help after getting frostbite from using nitrous oxide. 'Scarring is a really significant thing. Some of the patients presented with burns around the lips and fingertips and can take some months to resolve,' he said. 'There is also an environmental impact after several incinerators and waste management facilities around Europe suffered major damage when canisters exploded in their furnaces and compactors.' The bill is due to be introduced to the Dáil this afternoon. A 2024 version of the bill had been introduced previously but it lapsed when the Dáil was dissolved before the election. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
25-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
State is failing young people caught up in crime, with Oberstown at breaking point we need early intervention changes
IRELAND'S prison system is bursting at the seams, with inmates left sleeping on floors. Advertisement 2 Overcrowding in Oberstown has resulted in some teenage criminals being let off after being convicted Credit: Collins Photo Agency 2 Dublin TD Mark Ward said that early intervention is key to tackling youth crime Credit: Damien Eagers - The Sun Dublin This overcrowding crisis is mirrored in the country's only prison for young offenders at Oberstown in The facility has a max capacity of 40 boys and six girls. But figures show almost every month last year it was overcrowded, with 54 kids incarcerated in May and 53 in December. Oberstown is under so much pressure that officials are considering the possibility of trying to add a number of cells into the existing building. The overcrowding in Oberstown has resulted in some teenage criminals being let off after being convicted because there is no prison space for them. Advertisement Read more in News Dublin TD Mark Ward believes the Government needs to target resources at communities most affected by crime in order to tackle the issue from the bottom up. Here, Deputy Ward tells of the real impact of overcrowding in Oberstown in his constituency and what he believes needs to help prevent teens ending up in a life of crime. THE state is failing our young people by not resourcing communities most affected by crime. Early intervention is key to tackling youth crime and to give young people a chance to succeed in society. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Young people turn to crime for a myriad of underlying social reasons, including poverty, lack of local services, and lack of opportunities. I have raised this on many occasions on the floor of the Their communities need to be funded, particularly to build resilience to criminality. If a young person is groomed into criminality, then there must be sufficient intervention services to assist them away from this. CRIME ROOT CAUSES NOT ADDRESSED Unfortunately, there is not enough emphasis on stopping repeat offending. The root causes of crime are not being addressed. The Irish Penal Reform Trust have highlighted the benefits of the Bail Supervision Scheme. Advertisement The Bail Supervision Scheme gives the This consists of multi-disciplinary teams going into the home of the young person, finding out what their issues are and working with them to address them. I have followed up with the Minister in relation to this service, to ask the levels of funding and the impact the service is having. Restorative justice is another path to reducing crime by young people. This process allows the victim of a crime to speak with the perpetrator of the crime, alongside an independent professional. Advertisement RESTORATIVE JUSTICE An open conversation can help both the victim and the perpetrator to understand the motives but also the impact that it has on a victim. It humanises the victim. Evidence has stated restorative justice practices will encourage young people to not reoffend. Dr Ian Marder, Associate Professor in Criminology at Maynooth University, has highlighted that referrals to restorative justice for 2023 had not reached their pre-pandemic levels. I have received parliamentary question responses that show this decline between 2019 and 2023. 2024 data is being correlated and I would like to see these numbers increase. This, alongside other youth diversion programmes such as targeted outreach models, are a way forward in reducing repeat offences. Advertisement The alternative to the above interventions is youth detention, and while this is what is needed for serious crimes, we know that this is not only costly, but also not the most effective way at reducing repeat offending. The capacity in the Oberstown HIGH COST OF DETENTION Prime Time last month highlighted that there is a daily cost of €1,700 per young person to detain them in Oberstown. Imagine if this money was invested in those young people within their communities, to fund local services, youth groups, sports clubs. We need to target young people where they live and provide them with positive options for their lives. I am aware of incidents in my community where a young offender was sentenced to Oberstown but that the detention centre was at capacity. The young person was sent back to their community, with no support, and allowed to reoffend. Advertisement This impacts the morale of my community, and also the local The MOORE NEEDS TO BE DONE More needs to be done to build resilience in our communities to tackle the causes of crime. It is important the areas of highest disadvantage are funded to be the most resilient to crime. The state needs to listen to services on the frontline, resource them and allow them to build resilience in our communities. Advertisement The building blocks for a fully functional youth justice strategy are there, it just requires the political will to put it all together. Young people and their communities deserve it.
