Fine Gael plea over antisocial behaviour
Communities are not being properly protected from antisocial behaviour by existing laws, it was claimed today.
Fine Gael claimed legislation passed seven years ago to crack down on people engaged in antisocial activity has made little difference, as local authorities are slow to move against known troublemakers.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has already signalled his intention to introduce Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) but Fine Gael Dublin spokesman Senator Brian Hayes said existing measures must also be enforced.
“The figures from South Dublin County Council (SDCC) show, that on average, 10 excluding orders were served per annum over the past five years on individuals residing in council-rented dwellings,” he said.
“The Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Bill gave local authorities the power to seek an excluding order against a named individual, without local residents being present in court to give evidence.
“The evidence was then to be given either by a housing official or a local garda, as a means of stopping intimidation against law-abiding residents who previously had to appear before the court to explain what was going on.
“From the figures I have obtained from SDCC it is obvious that not enough is being done to exclude those who are making life a living hell for some in our communities.”
Mr Hayes said the scale of the problem was illustrated by the revelation that over 214 tenants in the area applied for a housing transfer, stating antisocial behaviour or harassment as the reason for the transfer request, and the very low level of excluding orders actually being granted.
“The antisocial unit in the council are stretched to capacity trying to respond to all of the complaints that are made against those who cause trouble,” he said.
“In very difficult circumstances, they have to deal with a large number of cases where one or two members of one family or the family itself are simply out of control.
“A more co-ordinated approach is now needed between local gardaí and the Housing Department, to effectively eradicate this problem.”
