Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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277. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will address concerns that Dublin City Council was involved in the payment of moneys relating to criminal activities at a social housing development in Dublin city; when his or a Minister of State's attention was drawn to this issue; the measures taken in response to ensure that such practices are not being carried out at other local authority social housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42548/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Contributing financially towards criminality cannot be condoned in any circumstances, nor should intimidation and anti-social behaviour be tolerated or rewarded in any way.

While concerns around alleged intimidation, anti-social behaviour and other criminality in relation to the social housing development concerned were raised with a number of public bodies, including An Garda Siochana and my Department, in late 2016/early 2017, the suggestion that certain payments were made on foot of advice from Dublin City Council officials only emerged in the context of recent Court proceedings. Following the matter coming to light, I and my Department have been in contact with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, and with Dublin City Council. On foot of this, I am commissioning an independent investigation to establish the facts in relation to this matter.

Accordingly, I will be engaging closely with the Attorney General in relation to the arrangements for the investigation. The question of further action will be considered in light of the outcome of this work, which I intend to complete quickly.