"OUT there they have nothing" says Mary, the sweep of her hand taking in the Westside area of Galway City.
"Out there" more immediately includes the unsupervised playground on her own local authority estate, where stolen cars are driven around recklessly during the summer months. "I wouldn't even allow them into it", says Mary (not her real name) who is separated and has six children.
What is the alternative? "They play the Nintendo or stay in bed or watch telly."
That's when the four oldest ones are not taking part in the indoor and outdoor activities which form part of a neighbourhood project which has been scoring successes since it started in 1991. For families like Mary's, the struggle to get their children safely into adulthood is a tough one.
Westside has areas of high unemployment and a growing drug problem.
Many of the parents themselves are under fierce pressure from relationship problems, family difficulties or lack of money. Where children have emotional or behavioural problems, the danger that they will end up in care or in trouble is higher than average.
To help children and families cope with these pressures in their own community, the Western Health Board, at the prompting of the local development association, Le Cheile, set up a neighbourhood project for youth in the Westside in 1991. It is located in St Joseph's Community Centre in Shantalla, the oldest estate on Westside.
A detailed study by University College, Galway, has found that children taking part have benefitted in real ways. Parents have found that some have settled down and become much easier to manage, says the report. Others are able to communicate better and without aggression.
One of the main forces behind the project is child care worker Mr Pat Dolan, who believes strongly in helping children in the community rather than taking them into residential care. Swimming, hillwalking, arts and crafts, indoor soccer and discussion groups are all used to help children to build their self esteem, he says.
One of the project's most enthusiastic backers is the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board, Mr Eamonn Hannan. The project, he says, has the twin objectives of "encouraging these young people and keeping them out of harm's way".
"We are getting exceptionally good value for money," says Mr Hannan.
Vital to its success is the children's perception of the project as a club. "They are no sooner finished down there than they want to be back," says Mary.