Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 28, to delete line 16.

This amendment arises out of an issue which I raised on Second Stage. Some of the anti-social behaviour in this area is being caused by minors. According to the Garda Síochána there is very little it can do when there is a minor involved. While I acknowledge that the Bill does not provide for an excluding order in respect of minors, I am seeking a multi-agency approach to address the anti-social behaviour problem. It is often the case that particularly vulnerable people are being terrorised by five, six or more youngsters who are aware they are above reproach. This issue needs to be addressed. I do not believe this is necessarily only a court issue. It is also a child welfare issue in that often these youngsters are not attending school. There is a whole range of issues involved. While the issue may not be one for address in this Bill there is a need for a different approach if we are to break the cycle of anti-social behaviour.

It can be a very costly cycle. I am aware of someone who has caused extensive damage to public and private properties - I refer not just to one person but to several - and this is behaviour that has been replicated around the country. How can we deal with the situation? What legislation covers these activities? What legislation can impose a legal obligation on local authorities to engage with other agencies? Unless one legally forces change, one will not change the culture of how the situation is handled.

I will outline my experience of what happens when a tenant liaison officer is involved. He or she will deal with the situation and will liaise with a juvenile liaison officer if there is one. Often one finds that problems at home have led to such behaviour. The problem will not be resolved unless one gets the ringleader, breaks the cycle and demonstrates that there are consequences to their actions. Moving them on is not good enough. The problem must be tackled head-on. Moving them on just means they will do exactly the same thing somewhere else, which is true where minors are involved. The agencies should be required to do something about this type of behaviour and resolve these cases, perhaps with the aid of child welfare training and a JLO, which several of us have sought for many years. That must be done before things get out of control.