Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I am also in favour of anti-social behaviour orders, ASBOs. Anti-social behaviour is becoming a larger part of crime in Ireland. It is still somewhat hidden and statistics should be calculated on the problem. People in my area, not one or two but several, have given up council houses, leaving themselves homeless, in order to escape anti-social behaviour. These may be elderly pensioners leaving their home of many years. The type of people targeted are usually vulnerable, like single mothers and the elderly. Anti-social behaviour can cause terrible stress and ruin lives. Some victims will not leave their homes, they may be very distressed, yet it is often difficult to pinpoint a particular crime that has been committed relating to the behaviour. However, such behaviour is unfair, selfish and alarming.

I told the House on Second Stage that recently my garden wall was demolished by a stolen car at 4 a.m. We had to rebuild it and I could take the situation up to a point, but I realised a week or two later that I was staying awake at night having heard speeding cars, not necessarily on my estate. The fear had returned of it happening again. That is on a very small scale, but I can imagine what it must be like for people living in constant fear of anti-social behaviour.