John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I apologise for the fact that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform cannot be present but I assure the Deputy that the Minister shares his concern about incidents of anti-social behaviour in Ennis and is conscious of how distressing such incidents are for the local community. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigation of such incidents has resulted in a number of arrests. The persons arrested have been charged with a number of offences including assault, criminal damage and violent disorder.

Ennis town is patrolled on a 24-hour basis by Garda personnel attached to Ennis Garda station. Regular patrols are conducted, under the direction of local Garda management, by personnel on mobile, foot and mountain bike duties supplemented as required by personnel attached to the divisional traffic corps and drugs unit, the detective branch and a dedicated community policing unit. Additional personnel are also available from other Garda districts within the division if required.

The Minister is informed by the Garda Commissioner that at the end of May the personnel strength of the Clare Garda division was 334. The strength of the Ennis Garda district was 215, with 131 members based in Ennis Garda station. The divisional strength is augmented by the resources available to regional and national units, such as the national bureau of criminal investigation, the Garda national drugs unit and CAB, when required.

A policing initiative targeting public disorder, minor assaults and other anti-social type behaviour has been put in place in Ennis, with particular emphasis on weekends. This initiative has been enhanced by the recent introduction of a Garda CCTV system in the town centre. Other initiatives are regularly put in place targeting under age drinking and ensuring the enforcement of liquor licensing legislation. These include covert and overt policing measures, which assist in the prevention and detection of anti-social offences.

Incidents relating to public disorder and other anti-social behaviour reported to the Garda Síochána are the subject of investigation and can be dealt with by way of adult or juvenile caution, a fixed charge penalty notice or by the initiation of criminal proceedings. As a result, there are a number of individuals currently before the courts for alleged public order and anti-social behaviour in the town. The Minister is informed that local Garda management is satisfied with the level of service being provided to the community in the Ennis Garda district. Resource levels are constantly monitored in conjunction with crime trends and other demands made on the Garda Síochána and are kept under review to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. The situation is kept under review by the Commissioner and his senior management and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the area will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

The Minister and the Garda Síochána are aware of the damage and distress that anti-social behaviour causes communities. The Garda policing plan for 2009 reflects the priorities set for the force by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and contains a series of measures aimed at reducing the impact of crime and criminal behaviour. One of the strategic goals identified in the plan is to reduce significantly the incidence of public disorder and anti-social behaviour in communities.

Strong provisions are already in place to combat anti-social behaviour. The Criminal Justice Act 2006 brought into force additional legislation to target public disorder and anti-social behaviour. In January 2007, behaviour warnings and civil orders were introduced for adults and in March 2007 behaviour warnings, good behaviour contracts and behaviour orders were introduced for children.

The Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 gives further powers to the Garda Síochána to tackle the misuse of alcohol. The Act places restrictions on the availability and visibility of alcohol and provides for more effective enforcement to deal with the consequences of alcohol abuse. Gardaí may seize any bottle or container from a person under the age of 18 years that a Garda suspects contains alcohol to be consumed by a person under 18 in a public place. They may also seize bottles or containers containing alcohol where there is a reasonable apprehension of public disorder or damage to property and may require a person to leave the place concerned in a peaceable and orderly manner. The Act also allows for the issue of fixed charge notices for the offences of intoxication in a public place and disorderly conduct in a public place, which are offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

The Minister and the Garda authorities will continue to attach the highest priority to tackling anti-social behaviour. Legislative provisions dealing with anti-social behaviour are kept under review by the Department.

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