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

I assure the Deputy that the Government and I, as Minister, are determined to tackle antisocial behaviour and its causes. Antisocial behaviour, as we know, is a broad term often used to describe a range of actions and behaviours that violate social norms in specific contexts. While it is generally associated with young people, we cannot confine it to young people.

A number of priority actions are contained in the programme for Government and the justice plan for 2023 to reduce instances of such behaviour and to help people be safe and feel safe, be it in their communities or in their homes. We have the setting up of the expert forum on antisocial behaviour, which is chaired by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Browne; the expansion of youth diversion to the 18 to 24 age group; implementation of the youth justice strategy, which runs from 2021 to 2027; the criminalising of adults who groom children into criminality; and the delivery of a programme to tackle the misuse of scramblers and similar vehicles.

The antisocial behaviour forum, which is chaired, as I said, by the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, is developing measures which will address the factors which give rise to antisocial behaviour and its impact on community morale and quality of life. The forum seeks to avoid duplicating other ongoing work in my Department. Three subgroups of the forum have been established to consider the specific issues of knife crime, the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes, and responses to antisocial behaviour impacts on housing complexes managed by approved housing bodies.

The scrambler subgroup developed a new initiative to support local projects. There was €190,000 allocated last year to assist projects in 2022, with a further €190,000 allocated for this year. Separately, my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has introduced the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, which provides enhanced powers for An Garda Síochána to seize those types of vehicles if used in antisocial behaviour or related criminality.

Through the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027, we are broadening and deepening the services right across the youth diversion network. That puts a focus on early intervention. Some of the newer projects have focused on much younger ages, starting from eight years up to 11, as well as expanding and supporting the family support programmes, in particular for those who are at risk, looking also at appropriate education, training and youth services.

I will come back in my second response with details on some of the other areas.

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