Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If we look at the crime trends overall, which are based on pre-Covid numbers, most cases, including theft, burglary and assault, are actually down. Where we have seen crime increase is around sexual offences and domestic violence cases. That said, any type of antisocial behaviour or crime is something we need to be able to respond to. We are trying to look at antisocial behaviour in a number of different ways. I have mentioned the community safety partnership and how important that is in looking at things from a holistic point of view. That involves supporting the Garda in its role but also looking at the community as a whole, making sure the supports and resources are there to lift communities, particularly those that are in deprivation or where significant community issues have arisen.

We also have to make sure gardaí have the legislation and the equipment and tools to do their job. We have provided legislation giving gardaí powers to seize and stop the illegal use of scramblers, which has impacted a number of communities. We are introducing legislation around community CCTV. We have had issues with GDPR in the last number of years so that will allow a process by which communities can engage with local authorities and the Garda to put up community CCTV. We will have body-worn cameras, which is helpful for the Garda when dealing with antisocial behaviour and this type of environment, but also helps create a picture of what exactly happened when it comes to the courts.

I have already mentioned the community safety innovation fund. This is a new fund, which many of our colleagues have called for for years and reinvests the proceeds of crime directly back into communities impacted. We also have a significant youth justice strategy, which the former Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, and now Deputy James Browne, have been implementing. In the last year and a half alone, that strategy has seen €6.7 million provided, with another €2.5 million this year. This is about providing services and supports to people prior to getting into a life of crime but also supporting their families when they are in it. That is going to be an important part of dealing with some of the antisocial behaviour issues.

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