Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1457.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the work of the Anti-Social Behaviour Forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31232/24]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In line with a Programme for Government commitment, an Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) was established in 2020. The Forum is examining a broad range of issues with a focus on developing measures which will counteract the negative impact of ASB on community morale and quality of life. The forum most recently met on 10 July 2024 and is scheduled to meet again in October.

The forum has established four sub-groups to consider the specific issues of the misuse of scramblers and quadbikes, knife crime, responses to ASB impacts on housing complexes managed by Local Authorities (LA) or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and to review the powers available to An Garda Síochána in relation to public order offences. Similar sub-groups can be established to examine other issues as required.

Members of the Forum are drawn from a number of State agencies, including An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and key Government Departments, as well as a broad representation of community, business, academic and other experts.

The subgroup to consider the issues of Anti-Social Behaviour that are arising within Approved Housing Bodies' accommodation complexes have completed a Local Leadership Programme (LLP) in a trial location and will be rolling out LLPs in more locations moving forward in collaboration with local authorities, AHBs and the Department of Housing. The recommendations of this subgroup could include possible pilot approaches to address this issue in one or more geographical areas.

The subgroup to review Garda powers has produced a policy paper with recommendations focused on offences under the Public Order Acts, but not serious crime, such as drugs and organised crime, and not low-level nuisances such as litter, graffiti, etc., for which Gardaí do not have responsibility.

The scramblers subgroup delivered a community-based approach to tackling misuse of these and similar vehicles, with my Department providing funding to Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs). €190,000 was allocated in 2022, and a further €190,000 in 2023. For 2024, almost €149,000 in funding has been allocated. My Department welcomes additional applications from other YDPs and is working with a number to support them in developing additional local scrambler initiatives.

The subgroup has assessed the available evidence to inform policy on knife crime. Following this, increased sentences for a number of knife-related crimes were included in the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, which completed all Oireachtas stages on 17th July. These changes are the result of recommendations made from the work of the ASB Forum.