Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is justifiably concerned about antisocial behaviour in Dublin and its effects on local communities. Antisocial behaviour can radically change the complexion of where each of us calls home and can make us feel distressed and unhappy. It can pose a serious threat to community safety and weaken collective resilience. Strong community engagement and services are critical in reducing and preventing antisocial behaviour. This is central to the comprehensive community safety policy currently being developed by the Department of Justice, based on the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. This policy will underpin the new policing, security and community safety Bill, the general scheme of which was published last week.

Community safety is not just the responsibility of An Garda Síochána and the challenges communities face are not limited to policing issues. Bringing the right services together and working with each other to tackle the underlying issues that impact on a community and people's sense of safety within the community is key. The new legislation will place an obligation on Departments, State agencies and local authorities to co-operate with An Garda Síochána in delivering community safety. A key element of this framework will be the establishment of local community safety partnerships nationwide to develop local safety plans tailored to the priorities and needs of individual communities. Three pilot schemes are currently being developed in Dublin's north inner city, Waterford and Longford and will run for the next two years, ahead of a nationwide roll-out to all local authority areas. These partnerships will provide a strong forum to identify and tackle the issues causing antisocial behaviour in local areas, both in Dublin and throughout the country.

See this speech in context