Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senators for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, who regrets that he is unable to be present due to other business. He shares the Senators' concern about incidents of anti-social behaviour in the Templar's Hall area in Waterford and is conscious of how distressing such incidents are for the local community.

The programme for Government includes a commitment to attach a higher priority to community policing and, within available resources, a higher Garda visibility in the local neighbourhoods worst affected. The Garda Síochána operates a model of community policing that builds upon and enhances good community policing practice. Clear objectives are set, such as high visibility in the community, ease of contact by members of the public and enhanced support for crime prevention strategies such as neighbourhood watch and community alert.

In its policing plan for 2011, the Garda has prioritised actions to achieve the maximum levels of safety for local communities and to provide a community policing service that meets the demands of the public. The plan identifies a range of strategies to be deployed to counter anti-social activities, including targeted operations, high-visibility patrols, deployment of appropriate resources to identified public order hotspots in respect of alcohol and drug-related behaviour and youth crime, and the full utilisation of existing legislation.

The Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management in Waterford is aware of difficulties being experienced by residents relating to public disorder and other anti-social behaviour in the Templar's Hall area. In terms of a front-line policing response, additional resources from within the Waterford Garda district have been deployed in the locality by local Garda management to conduct additional patrols in this area and its environs on days and at times identified as being when such behaviour is more likely to occur. The area continues to receive a high level of priority.

Records indicate that in 2011 to date, there have been 126 public disorder-type incidents reported to the Garda in the area. These have resulted in approximately 21 persons being arrested for offences relating to public disorder, assault, drink driving, possession of drugs for sale or supply and theft-related crimes.

Members of the local community policing unit, working with local residents, the Waterford Institute of Technology authorities and the students union, have developed an action and response plan to combat such behaviour. This approach has resulted in a reduction in anti-social behaviour in the area, as acknowledged by the local residents association. Local Garda management, through the community policing unit, continues to work with all stakeholders in the area to address issues that arise and to respond to complaints by local residents. The Garda advises that anti-social behaviour in the area is not confined to any particular grouping.

Local Garda management held a productive meeting with local residents on 6 October to discuss their continuing issues of concern. The Garda in Waterford is committed to continuing to work closely with the residents association and the local community. The community policing unit remains in ongoing contact with the residents association, the college authorities and the students union. Local Garda management monitors operational strategies on an ongoing basis in conjunction with trends in crime and anti-social behaviour and the policing needs of communities to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. I assure the House that the Minister and the Garda authorities will continue to attach the highest priority to tackling anti-social behaviour wherever it occurs.