Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Kett for sharing his time with me and welcome the Minister of State to the House. I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Michael McDowell, for the personal passion he has shown in dealing with this subject. His address to the House earlier was eloquent.

I sought a definition of anti-social behaviour and the best one I came up with was in a Dublin City Council policy document which defined it as "any behaviour which causes, or is likely to cause, any significant or persistent danger, injury, damage, loss or fear to any person living in a house or an estate, and which includes violence, threats, intimidation, coercion, harassment, nuisance or serious obstruction of any person". It also includes the manufacture, sale and supply of drugs.

As Senator Kett noted, significant strides have been made in our area, the north inner city of Dublin, in dealing with anti-social behaviour, not only in recent times but over many years. I will refer specifically to two programmes. I have seen at first hand the benefits of the youth diversion programme which attempts to change the behavioural patterns of young people who get into trouble. The use of positive role models from among their peers is essential when dealing with young people. While adults will tell young people what to do, it is only when they are told what is right and wrong by members of their own age group that young people assume personal responsibility which is lacking in many cases of anti-social behaviour.

The community policing fora is the second initiative I wish to raise, specifically in the context of the inner city. The fora have been established in a number of areas and have proved effective in breaking down the barriers which exist in some communities between residents and the Garda. The community policing forum model has proven successful in this regards because it gives communities and residents a direct link to policing and an opportunity to have a say in how their areas and communities are policed. Anti-social behaviour affects all communities and I welcome the Minister's attempts to address it, particularly through community policing committees.