Management of their housing estates, including dealing with anti-social behaviour, is a matter for individual local authorities who have been encouraged by my Department to use the statutory powers available to them where appropriate.
In the first instance the tenancy agreement, which is the legal basis of the relationship between the local authority and its tenants, will generally contain provisions in relation to the type of behaviour that is acceptable, and that which is not. The local authority is empowered under section 62 of the Housing Act, 1966, to initiate proceedings to secure an eviction where a tenant has breached the conditions of the tenancy agreement.
In addition, the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1997, provides for a range of measures to assist local authorities in addressing problems arising on their estates from drug dealing and serious anti-social behaviour. It forms a part of a wider range of measures undertaken by Government to deal with the issue of drugs and related crime.