Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Anti-social behaviour has become the scourge of many of our communities, and many people in this country are now afraid to leave their homes, for fear of being harassed or intimidated. In some cases, life has become so unbearable that local authority housing lists are swamped with applications from people who are looking for housing transfers to escape the torment. One elderly woman who visited my constituency office was crying. She was afraid to leave her home because eggs and stones were fired at her house and souped-up cars are driving around her estate at night. She is not alone; many more are living in the same hell.

All incidents of anti-social behaviour are totally unacceptable. However, in recent times there have been more sinister developments, fuelled by the growing drug culture. Prior to 2001, the drug problem in this country was confined to Dublin and the larger cities. From 2001 to 2006, according to figures released by the Health Research Board, the number of drug users seeking treatment for the first time in the west increased by 100%. Over the past 12 months there has been a significant increase in drug dealing in my county, Clare. Heroin is available mainly in urban areas and cocaine and cannabis are freely available on our streets. The major growth in the drugs business has been a by-product of the Celtic tiger, when we witnessed the explosion in the use of the so-called recreational drugs, supported by the culture of some celebrities who glamorised the use of these drugs. What these people must realise is that they are fuelling the demand and supporting drug gangs in the country. Real people in our communities are living with the consequences of this every day.

Last weekend, in one of the oldest parts of the town of Ennis, in the early hours of Saturday, a sinister incident occurred. A grenade was thrown into a house in Cloughleigh estate. Ten families were evacuated from their homes as a precaution. The Army disposal unit was called in but, thankfully, the grenade was faulty and did not detonate. Some 99% of the community in the area are decent, hard-working people trying to get on with their lives. They do not deserve this. They are shocked and worried and live in great fear that lives will be lost if these incidents are not stamped out.

I acknowledge and commend the Garda Síochána in Ennis, under the command of Superintendent John Scanlon, for their efforts and their fast response on Saturday morning, and for their work in trying to deal with the increase of crime in this area. I am anxious to ensure that a lack of resources does not hamper the Garda effort. I ask the Minister of State to outline the extra resources available to the Garda Síochána in Ennis.

I want a clear commitment on the future of rural Garda stations. Any decisions to close rural Garda stations will put a further drain on urban Garda stations and we will see fewer gardaí on the beat. An increased visible presence on the street and more regular patrols in areas such as Cloughleigh is vital in the battle against this senseless violence. The CCTV system in Ennis needs to be expanded and necessary funding must be made available to make this fully operational. This would give comfort to people living there.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a major problem but one immediate step to be taken is a review of the vetting system for housing applicants. While local authorities can vet applicants for housing, there is no legislation for the HSE to vet applicants for rent supplement. This anomaly must be addressed. Tomorrow morning, I will address a public meeting in Ennis, where there will be an opportunity for the wider community to show its solidarity with the people of Cloughleigh. We must work together to stamp out this malice not just in this estate in Ennis or another part of Clare, but in every town and village affected. For the benefit of the entire society, it is time to take a tougher approach to anti-social behaviour. The Garda Síochána is best equipped to handle this crisis. I ask the Minister of State to ensure that no obstacles are put in the way of the Garda Síochána and that resources are made available so that it can get on with the job.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise for the fact that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform cannot be present but I assure the Deputy that the Minister shares his concern about incidents of anti-social behaviour in Ennis and is conscious of how distressing such incidents are for the local community. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigation of such incidents has resulted in a number of arrests. The persons arrested have been charged with a number of offences including assault, criminal damage and violent disorder.

Ennis town is patrolled on a 24-hour basis by Garda personnel attached to Ennis Garda station. Regular patrols are conducted, under the direction of local Garda management, by personnel on mobile, foot and mountain bike duties supplemented as required by personnel attached to the divisional traffic corps and drugs unit, the detective branch and a dedicated community policing unit. Additional personnel are also available from other Garda districts within the division if required.

The Minister is informed by the Garda Commissioner that at the end of May the personnel strength of the Clare Garda division was 334. The strength of the Ennis Garda district was 215, with 131 members based in Ennis Garda station. The divisional strength is augmented by the resources available to regional and national units, such as the national bureau of criminal investigation, the Garda national drugs unit and CAB, when required.

A policing initiative targeting public disorder, minor assaults and other anti-social type behaviour has been put in place in Ennis, with particular emphasis on weekends. This initiative has been enhanced by the recent introduction of a Garda CCTV system in the town centre. Other initiatives are regularly put in place targeting under age drinking and ensuring the enforcement of liquor licensing legislation. These include covert and overt policing measures, which assist in the prevention and detection of anti-social offences.

Incidents relating to public disorder and other anti-social behaviour reported to the Garda Síochána are the subject of investigation and can be dealt with by way of adult or juvenile caution, a fixed charge penalty notice or by the initiation of criminal proceedings. As a result, there are a number of individuals currently before the courts for alleged public order and anti-social behaviour in the town. The Minister is informed that local Garda management is satisfied with the level of service being provided to the community in the Ennis Garda district. Resource levels are constantly monitored in conjunction with crime trends and other demands made on the Garda Síochána and are kept under review to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. The situation is kept under review by the Commissioner and his senior management and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the area will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

The Minister and the Garda Síochána are aware of the damage and distress that anti-social behaviour causes communities. The Garda policing plan for 2009 reflects the priorities set for the force by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and contains a series of measures aimed at reducing the impact of crime and criminal behaviour. One of the strategic goals identified in the plan is to reduce significantly the incidence of public disorder and anti-social behaviour in communities.

Strong provisions are already in place to combat anti-social behaviour. The Criminal Justice Act 2006 brought into force additional legislation to target public disorder and anti-social behaviour. In January 2007, behaviour warnings and civil orders were introduced for adults and in March 2007 behaviour warnings, good behaviour contracts and behaviour orders were introduced for children.

The Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 gives further powers to the Garda Síochána to tackle the misuse of alcohol. The Act places restrictions on the availability and visibility of alcohol and provides for more effective enforcement to deal with the consequences of alcohol abuse. Gardaí may seize any bottle or container from a person under the age of 18 years that a Garda suspects contains alcohol to be consumed by a person under 18 in a public place. They may also seize bottles or containers containing alcohol where there is a reasonable apprehension of public disorder or damage to property and may require a person to leave the place concerned in a peaceable and orderly manner. The Act also allows for the issue of fixed charge notices for the offences of intoxication in a public place and disorderly conduct in a public place, which are offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

The Minister and the Garda authorities will continue to attach the highest priority to tackling anti-social behaviour. Legislative provisions dealing with anti-social behaviour are kept under review by the Department.