Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of anti-social behaviour action teams that have been established in each local authority; the plans for the expansion of this scheme; and the funding provided for it annually since its establishment. [36459/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Agreed Programme for Government contains a range of commitments to combat anti-social behaviour. One of these is the creation of Anti-Social Behaviour Action Teams (ASBATs) which would operate in areas experiencing serious problems of anti-social behaviour.

The purpose of ASBATs is to tackle local, previously intractable, problems of anti-social behaviour, in a way where joint working makes a real difference. Given the need for close and effective inter-agency working, typically an official from the relevant local authority or a police officer is appointed as a designated co-ordinator.

My Department is researching the development of an ASBAT model which will ensure a coordinated approach to dealing with and preventing anti-social behaviour at the local level, taking into account the financial and personnel resources available to local and national agencies and Government policy on using to the greatest extent possible existing structures for co-operation among agencies. This will involve consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Garda authorities.