Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I represent the Dublin north-east constituency, which includes the area covered by the Dublin north-east drugs task force. I am well aware of the work being done by the task force in Darndale, Kilbarrack and Edenmore and I have had many dealings with it.

Darndale was mentioned as an area of focus in terms of the type of anti-social behaviour that arises from crime and the drug addiction problem. Has any of the delegates come across people who have had to leave their homes in particular areas because of intimidation by local crime gangs? I have come across one or two cases of it myself. As has been said, very often the people involved are afraid to put their heads above the parapet, leading to victims not getting recourse because they are unwilling to give evidence to An Garda Síochána. That is a matter which I believe needs to be addressed. I would welcome the views of the delegates on that, as the people working on the ground.

I was particularly interested in the presentation made by Ms Quigley, in regard, in particular, to the community policing forums and local safety forums in the north east constituency. I am sure there are similar forums in the inner city constituency. Ms Quigley mentioned that these forums are not receiving the same priority they got in the past. That point is well made. Under housing legislation the local authorities have a role to play in dealing with criminal gangs living in local authority estates. In Ms Quigley's view, are the local authorities doing enough in terms of housing and estate management to tackle low-level criminal activity, including intimidation? We hear much on the news about people being shot but nothing about the everyday low level intimidation that annoys people intensely and makes life unbearable for them. I would welcome the delegates' views on what more the local authorities could do or if there is need for further legislation in that regard.

I have one more question.