Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for choosing this Adjournment matter. We are coming close to Hallowe'en and the perennial problems that arise in the context of the Hallowe'en festivities. Very often, it becomes an issue of fear and concern to many, particularly the elderly, rather than a celebratory period of religious commemoration. In my constituency, there was virtual mayhem in a number of areas last year and I do not want this to reoccur this year, which is why I am raising the issue at an early stage this year.

Last year, a factory was burned down in the Docklands, a restaurant was burned in very suspicious circumstances, a fire brigade was stoned, 12 men were arrested and two gardaí suffered broken noses in the Dorset Street area and there was rioting in O'Devaney Gardens, where gardaí were effectively imprisoned for periods of time and a number of unoccupied flats were set on fire. The Dublin Fire Brigade service was called out to 800 incidents in the city and the ambulance service attended over 500 calls. All of that cost the taxpayer well over €1 million. Something in the region of 100 tonnes of tyres and pallets were seized by Dublin City Council officials and gardaí.

The situation is that in an area in the heart of the city of Dublin, Hallowe'en is an excuse for rampage and mayhem rather than an opportunity for good-natured or religious festivities. We need to consider carefully the case of the coming Hallowe'en. What makes the situation worse this year is that Hallowe'en falls on a Saturday and we will end up with an entire weekend of late night activities and bonfires of tyres, which are environmentally damaging, at all hours of the day and night. To compound the problem on this occasion, fewer resources are available. The Garda Síochána has already indicated to me that the local authority has not got the resources to provide trucks to pick up the tyres and pallets that will be hoarded over this month for Hallowe'en. If there are much greater quantities of flammable material than in previous years, it does not require any great effort to imagine that the situation will be worse than it was in previous years, particularly last year.

It is almost as though Hallowe'en is an excuse - a culture, almost - for young people to engage in these activities and to do so in conjunction with alcohol. Many youngsters who would not normally be seen with cans or bottles in their possession are seen with them around the bonfires. We must carefully consider the issues concerning off licences. I know off licences close at certain times on St. Patrick's Day and this may be something to consider.

The fact is that fireworks are legal in Northern Ireland but illegal in the Republic and we all know they are bought very easily along the Border. What level of Garda activity will be undertaken in this area? Those who do not recycle their tyres but leave them readily available for young people to take must be prosecuted. It happens all the time in the lead-up to Hallowe'en that tyres, which cost a certain amount of money to be recycled, are left available by garages and other outlets to be stolen.

In the interests of our emergency services who do good work, and of the elderly and young people, it is time to put in place adequate policing facilities and recreational facilities for young people to ensure that we do not have more than mayhem at Hallowe'en, as the situation could easily result in a fatality if we do not take adequate care.

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