John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of complaints received by local authorities in 2010 and 2011 as a result of anti-social behaviour; the number of evictions that have been carried out by local authorities as a result of these complaints; the steps being taken to combat anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45938/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Statistics compiled by my Department show that in 2010, 39 warrants under section 62 of the Housing Act 1966 were sought by local authorities for anti-social behaviour reasons with 14 resultant evictions, 56 Section 62 warrants for anti-social behaviour were sought in 2011 with 15 evictions. My Department does not collect statistics on the number of complaints received by local authorities.

Arising from a Supreme Court judgment in February 2012 relating to section 62 of the Housing Act 1966, the Housing Bill currently being developed in my Department will include a revised procedure enabling housing authorities to recover possession of their dwellings from households that are in breach of their tenancy agreements or engage in anti-social behaviour. I will also, in the context of the Bill, examine the scope for strengthening the range of statutory powers available to housing authorities for dealing with anti-social behaviour in their housing stock.

Criminality associated with anti-social behaviour is addressed under the Criminal Justice Acts, responsibility for which rests with the Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Law Reform.