Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I congratulate Deputy Connick on his appointment as Minister of State. I served with him on a number of committees and I am delighted he has been promoted.

The issue I raise is causing considerable discontent and concern in Wolfe Tone Close, which is a local authority residential complex largely populated by senior citizens. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has acquired the lease on a property owned by Liam Carroll directly across the road, which is intended to be used for probation services. However, there is a great shortage of information in this regard and local residents are concerned that all sorts of anti-social behaviour will emanate from the premises. The layout of Wolfe Tone Close is similar to an amphitheatre with steps up to a gate, which is a long way removed from the street. There is room for 60 people to sit on the steps one above the other and there is also a curved space beside the gate, which was originally intended as a parking area for six to eight cars. There are two major spaces, therefore, in which anti-social behaviour and undesirable activity involving drink and drugs could take place if people attending the new premises across the road congregate there.

The residents protested last week. There was a large turnout not only of residents of the complex but also of many other people living in the area. A further protest march is planned tomorrow from the premises to Parnell Square to highlight the residents' opposition to the proposal and the lack of information provided by the Department.

There was no planning permission for the building and Dublin City Council has served an enforcement order on the premises. It is highly irresponsible of the Department to lease a building, refurbish it for a particular service it intends to provide, fail to apply for planning permission, find itself in breach of local authority planning laws and have an enforcement notice served on it. In addition, the local business community is up in arms and a meeting of business people is planned tomorrow evening to highlight the issue and to register their protest about what is happening because they also were not consulted. Neither the local residents or the business community were consulted about the issue and given an opportunity to have their say on it. Both groups are up in arms.

There is an overabundance of justice facilities in this part of the north inner city. We have stated again and again that we do not oppose the distribution of such facilities but it has not been done fairly. Almost every justice facility is on the north side, particularly in the inner city. Opening another facility in an overburdened community is not the way to go.

The Minister should not allow a premises to open without planning permission because that is bad form. He should seek an alternative location for this facility. There is plenty of space beside Mountjoy Prison on the North Circular Road, given the Department under the previous Minister, Michael McDowell, acquired Egan's Cash and Carry, which is lying idle. He should also look to the south side for a change to balance the distribution of justice facilities. Will the Minister of State outline how this private property held in the name of Liam Carroll and his wife was acquired by the Department?

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