Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy will appreciate that allocation of funding to local authorities falls primarily within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

On 24 September, with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I launched the roll-out of the joint policing committees established by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to local authority areas in the State beyond the 29 already established under a pilot phase. I believe that these committees are a very significant development which will make policing more responsive to local needs. The issue of anti-social behaviour will, of course, be a priority for each committee.

The Garda Síochána operates a number of crime prevention initiatives aimed at curbing anti-social behaviour, including Garda youth diversion projects, the juvenile diversion programme and the Garda school programme.

The use of CCTV can play an important role in supporting the work of the Garda Síochána in deterring criminal and anti-social behaviour. The community-based CCTV scheme operated by my Department is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of such systems.

Strong legal provisions are already in place to combat anti-social behaviour. For example, the recently enacted Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 places restrictions on the availability and visibility of alcohol and provides for more effective enforcement to deal with the consequences of alcohol abuse.

My Department is in ongoing contact with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, at the highest level on a range of issues, including tackling anti-social behaviour.

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