Anti-Social Behaviour

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2012

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Ceisteanna (135)

John Halligan

Ceist:

135. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 427 of 23 October 2012, in view of increasing levels of anti-social behaviour being reported here at the moment, the number of warrants issued and evictions being sought noted in his response seems to be very low; if he will clarify the number of the noted complaints and evictions recorded for 2010 and 2011 that related to Waterford city and county councils respectively; if he will further clarify the number of anti social behaviour officers employed in city and county councils across the State; the number of staff allocated to these antisocial behaviour departments within local authorities and the cost to the relevant local authority. [48841/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

Statistics compiled by my Department show that one warrant under section 62 of the Housing Act 1966 was sought by Waterford City Council in each of 2010 and 2011, with no resultant evictions. No warrants were sought by Waterford County Council during that period. As stated in the reply to Question No. 427 of 23 October 2012, my Department does not collect statistics on the number of complaints received by local authorities.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 (as amended) and section 35 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 confer a range of powers on housing authorities relating to combating anti-social behaviour in their housing stock. Authorities are required by the 2009 Act to adopt an anti-social behaviour strategy. The exercise of these powers, including the allocation of staff to deal with this issue, is a matter for the relevant authority.