Written answers
Thursday, 1 May 2025
Department of Justice and Equality
Departmental Inquiries
Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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306. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is aware of the recent increase in anti-social behaviour and the consequential public safety concerns at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21853/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to the principle that everyone, wherever they live in Ireland, should be safe and feel safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority in the Programme for Government. I want every part of the country to be a safe space for people to live and work in, and the Citywest area in Dublin 24 is no exception to this.
Anti-social behaviour is a broad term often used to describe a range of actions and behaviours that violate social norms in specific contexts. I am conscious of the very damaging impact on the quality of life it can have in our communities.
The Government is committed to tackling the scourge of anti-social behaviour and crime to build safer streets and stronger communities through a number of ongoing measures, including:
- The deployment of body-worn cameras for Gardaí in Dublin City Centre, Waterford, and Limerick in 2024, with nationwide roll-out to follow;
- The introduction of Local Community Safety Partnerships around the country, to develop tailored Community Safety Plans for every area;
- Continued expansion of youth justice and youth diversion measures;
- New laws which have criminalised the grooming of children into a life of crime;
- Providing the funding necessary to enhance the equipment available to An Garda Síochána for public order policing, including the deployment of tasers and stronger incapacitant spray;
- Proposing solutions to public order and anti-social “wicked problems” through the Local Leadership Programme which brings together local stakeholders in a structured manner.
The typical Garda response to alleviate this type of criminality in any given area includes local Garda management instituting routine patrols of mobile, beat and bicycle officers in anti-social behaviour hot-spots.
Community Policing members would also continue to engage with young people by giving the talks about the consequences of criminal behaviour and consequences of assaults.
Through the Programme for Government and the Youth Justice Strategy, I am also committed to improving outcomes for young people at risk of a life of criminality through investment in youth justice services.
The Youth Justice Strategy 2021 – 2027 commits to expanding the network of Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs). YDPs are community based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour. On average the YDPs engage with between 3,500 and 4,000 young people across the State in any one year.
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