Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

Anti-social behaviour has become the scourge of many of our communities, and many people in this country are now afraid to leave their homes, for fear of being harassed or intimidated. In some cases, life has become so unbearable that local authority housing lists are swamped with applications from people who are looking for housing transfers to escape the torment. One elderly woman who visited my constituency office was crying. She was afraid to leave her home because eggs and stones were fired at her house and souped-up cars are driving around her estate at night. She is not alone; many more are living in the same hell.

All incidents of anti-social behaviour are totally unacceptable. However, in recent times there have been more sinister developments, fuelled by the growing drug culture. Prior to 2001, the drug problem in this country was confined to Dublin and the larger cities. From 2001 to 2006, according to figures released by the Health Research Board, the number of drug users seeking treatment for the first time in the west increased by 100%. Over the past 12 months there has been a significant increase in drug dealing in my county, Clare. Heroin is available mainly in urban areas and cocaine and cannabis are freely available on our streets. The major growth in the drugs business has been a by-product of the Celtic tiger, when we witnessed the explosion in the use of the so-called recreational drugs, supported by the culture of some celebrities who glamorised the use of these drugs. What these people must realise is that they are fuelling the demand and supporting drug gangs in the country. Real people in our communities are living with the consequences of this every day.

Last weekend, in one of the oldest parts of the town of Ennis, in the early hours of Saturday, a sinister incident occurred. A grenade was thrown into a house in Cloughleigh estate. Ten families were evacuated from their homes as a precaution. The Army disposal unit was called in but, thankfully, the grenade was faulty and did not detonate. Some 99% of the community in the area are decent, hard-working people trying to get on with their lives. They do not deserve this. They are shocked and worried and live in great fear that lives will be lost if these incidents are not stamped out.

I acknowledge and commend the Garda Síochána in Ennis, under the command of Superintendent John Scanlon, for their efforts and their fast response on Saturday morning, and for their work in trying to deal with the increase of crime in this area. I am anxious to ensure that a lack of resources does not hamper the Garda effort. I ask the Minister of State to outline the extra resources available to the Garda Síochána in Ennis.

I want a clear commitment on the future of rural Garda stations. Any decisions to close rural Garda stations will put a further drain on urban Garda stations and we will see fewer gardaí on the beat. An increased visible presence on the street and more regular patrols in areas such as Cloughleigh is vital in the battle against this senseless violence. The CCTV system in Ennis needs to be expanded and necessary funding must be made available to make this fully operational. This would give comfort to people living there.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a major problem but one immediate step to be taken is a review of the vetting system for housing applicants. While local authorities can vet applicants for housing, there is no legislation for the HSE to vet applicants for rent supplement. This anomaly must be addressed. Tomorrow morning, I will address a public meeting in Ennis, where there will be an opportunity for the wider community to show its solidarity with the people of Cloughleigh. We must work together to stamp out this malice not just in this estate in Ennis or another part of Clare, but in every town and village affected. For the benefit of the entire society, it is time to take a tougher approach to anti-social behaviour. The Garda Síochána is best equipped to handle this crisis. I ask the Minister of State to ensure that no obstacles are put in the way of the Garda Síochána and that resources are made available so that it can get on with the job.

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