Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House to discuss the issue of the management of local authority estates. Senators will be aware of boarded-up houses in estates and, regrettably, the town of Mullingar is no exception. I know of two families who are plagued by their neighbours and have been advised by the Garda Síochána to move house. I would have thought it should be the offenders rather than the offended who are asked to move. This is a festering sore of long standing and it is high time something was done about it. The legislation exists but I question whether it is strong enough. These houses are provided by the taxes paid by everyone so they should be used and not abused in this manner. It is a sad situation for any of us to have a mother and father coming to one's home in tears because of the manner in which their child is being abused by some of those people. It is high time to call a halt and for something to be done about the situation.