Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 983: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the escalation in anti-social activity in an area (details supplied) in Dublin 11 due to the delay in demolishing the near vacant blocks of flats; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that many residents in the new and old housing are living in fear as a result and that residents in the new housing are seeking transfers out of the area; and if, in view of this, he will sanction funding to enable the regeneration work. [37951/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The Government continues to demonstrate strong commitment to the Ballymun Regeneration Project with almost €630m in Exchequer funding devoted to the project to date. While an allocation of €45m was provided in 2009, it has been possible, on foot of significant progress made on the project and the reallocation of funds between programmes, to recoup some €52.4m in respect of Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL) projects to date this year. It is anticipated that further recoupments will be made over the remainder of the year. In addition, further specific funding of €20m was identified in Dublin City Council's main Social Housing allocation for 2009 to fund de-tenanting associated with its various regeneration projects including Ballymun.

My Department is currently finalising its consideration of BRL's recently submitted Housing Strategy, and associated documentation, with a view to ensuring the successful delivery of the programme in terms of prioritisation, scheduling, protection of public investment so far and maximising value for money from proposed public and private investments in its component parts. This will provide a clear and robust framework for bringing the regeneration of Ballymun to completion.

The development, encouragement and protection of communities is paramount in my Department's social housing policy. A crucial element of this approach is our commitment to supporting the development of sustainable communities in existing local authority estates through various improvement and regeneration initiatives. The Ballymun Regeneration Project, in particular, is focused on addressing the issues of social, educational and economic disadvantage.

This holistic approach goes beyond the physical infrastructure and considers all aspects of life in the Ballymun area. In addition to improving the fabric of Ballymun, the project has taken a strategic approach to addressing the underlying causes of deprivation in the area, including physical decay, a lack of educational supports, community facilities, and issues of security and anti-social behaviour for which there are specific initiatives in place.

Safer Ballymun is a partnership involving An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council, Ballymun Regeneration Ltd and local residents. This working group meets on a monthly basis, and has an action based, problem solving focus. The group assesses, monitors and aims to control the level of anti-social activity in the area. The Safer Ballymun Community Safety Strategy which was launched in June 2007 and is the first of its kind in Dublin, sets out a series of goals, objectives and actions to be undertaken by the agencies working in Ballymun in collaboration with local people to make Ballymun a cleaner, safer, greener place in which to live, work and visit, and addresses issues including: - · Improving estate management · Reducing crime and disorder · Tackling the adverse impact of alcohol and drug abuse · Enhancing local policing · Involving residents in decision making Safer Ballymun's main aim is to ensure that Ballymun becomes a safer, more pleasant place in which to live.

More generally, the matter of anti-social behaviour is the subject of new statutory provisions under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Of particular importance are the new provisions relating to anti-social behaviour in the social housing stock. There is a new requirement, coming into operation shortly, that the elected members of each authority must adopt a strategy for the prevention and reduction of anti-social behaviour in its housing estates and complexes. The strategy must set out measures to promote good estate management and co-operation with other bodies, such as An Garda Síochána, that have a role to play in combating anti-social behaviour. The new strategies, combined with statutory initiatives to promote consultation between the Gardaí and local authorities, will help secure a multi-faceted approach to dealing with instances of anti-social behaviour in local authority housing estates.

The new Act also extends the definition of "anti-social behaviour" in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 to cover graffiti and damage to property, and to bring it more into line with the approach in recent legislation relating to behaviour orders that may be sought by the Gardaí. Furthermore, the 2009 Act applies the existing anti-social behaviour powers of housing authorities, including the power to exchange information about housing applicants or beneficiaries engaged in anti-social behaviour, to a broader range of social accommodation, including accommodation provided through rental arrangements.

Criminality associated with anti-social behaviour is addressed under the Criminal Justice Acts, responsibility for which rests with my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.