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Anti-Social Behaviour

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 May 2018

Wednesday, 23 May 2018

Ceisteanna (71)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

71. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons given anti-social behaviour warnings in 2016 and 2017 by children and adults; the number of anti-social behaviour orders sought in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22648/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

At the outset, I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue and my reply, a copy of which the Deputy should now have, includes figures most readily available from An Garda Síochána in relation to anti-social behaviour warnings. The figures are broken down by Garda region and are voluminous in nature, but I hope the Deputy finds the information useful.

I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána remains committed to tackling public disorder and anti-social behaviour by working with communities to reduce this type of behaviour and enhance community safety. The Garda approach includes a strong focus on quality of life issues and collaboration with local authorities, businesses (in particular the night time economy) and other stakeholders to help address the causes of anti-social behaviour.

In setting up the ASBO regime back in 2007, these interventions - warnings, good behaviour contracts and referrals to the Juvenile Diversion Programme - were intended to address the problem behaviour. The rationale was that if they succeeded, there would be no need to apply to the courts for an order. It was only if they failed to lead to a behaviour adjustment by the person in question that a court order would then be applied for.

It is widely acknowledged the use of ASBOs is only suitable in certain circumstances and indeed it is only one crime prevention option open to An Garda Síochána in tackling this type of crime. As the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána already employs a wide range of operational measures aimed at tackling public-order offences and anti-social behaviour. These measures are underpinned by a comprehensive legal framework. Of course, addressing local community concerns in relation to public order and anti-social behaviour is a key focus in An Garda Síochána's National Community Policing Model and a range of strong legislative provisions are available to An Garda Síochána in this regard, including those under:

- the Criminal Damage Act 1991;

- Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994;

- the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003; and

- the Intoxicating Liquor Acts 2003 and 2008.

All forms of anti-social behaviour, particularly the type of behaviour we witnessed in Clongriffin recently, has no place in a civilised society. For its part, the Government remains committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána have all the necessary resources to tackle all forms of criminality in our communities. In this context, the Deputy will be aware that a very substantial budget of €1.65 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2018 and €98.5m has been provided for Garda overtime for 2018, which inter alia supports Garda activity to tackle these types of problems.

The Government is also committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. The Government will continue this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track.

Behaviour Warnings (Adult) (I.S)

Region/Division

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Dublin Region

214

327

646

333

479

410

694

587

302

728

35

D.M.R. Eastern

12

17

18

14

20

*

*

*

11

*

*

D.M.R. North Central

37

18

103

115

319

137

226

524

242

701

33

D.M.R. Northern

*

81

40

26

14

*

13

14

*

12

*

D.M.R. South Central

18

64

144

13

*

192

412

19

*

*

*

D.M.R. Southern

46

39

39

11

19

16

*

*

10

*

*

D.M.R. Western

99

108

302

154

103

54

30

21

27

*

*

Eastern Region

20

46

29

35

23

20

19

18

18

50

*

Kildare Div

10

*

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

28

*

Laois/Offaly

*

17

*

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Meath Division

*

12

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Westmeath Div

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

10

*

Wicklow Div

*

12

*

14

16

*

12

*

*

*

*

Northern Region

35

41

62

45

39

41

35

24

26

25

*

Cavan/Monaghan

*

25

48

28

23

26

19

11

13

*

*

Donegal

12

*

*

12

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Louth Division

12

13

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Sligo/Leitrim

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

10

*

Southern Region

111

64

140

127

104

139

121

105

116

80

46

Cork City

60

13

52

33

30

17

19

31

25

*

*

Cork North

12

*

24

25

*

12

13

*

12

13

*

Cork West

*

15

*

*

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

Kerry

15

*

10

*

*

*

11

12

11

13

*

Limerick

23

23

47

56

46

99

69

51

66

46

41

South Eastern Region

21

46

95

89

56

44

56

16

*

25

*

Kilkenny/Carlow

*

12

24

42

34

30

30

*

*

15

*

Tipperary

15

17

48

17

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Waterford Division

*

*

*

*

*

*

12

*

*

*

*

Wexford Division

*

15

19

29

11

*

*

*

*

*

*

Western Region

27

46

134

104

79

54

60

52

38

29

*

Clare

*

*

*

*

*

21

19

13

10

*

*

Galway Division

16

34

67

57

54

18

23

20

12

15

*

Mayo

*

*

48

33

18

13

18

*

16

*

*

Roscommon/Longford Division

*

*

11

*

*

*

*

11

*

*

*

National Total

428

570

1,106

733

780

708

985

802

507

937

86

*denotes count was less than ten

Behaviour Warnings (Children)

Region/Division

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Dublin Region

224

216

330

185

141

94

77

65

32

25

*

D.M.R. Eastern

*

*

16

*

14

13

*

*

*

*

*

D.M.R. North Central

38

14

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

19

*

D.M.R. Northern

25

53

61

18

20

*

11

*

*

*

*

D.M.R. South Central

*

*

*

*

*

23

*

*

*

*

*

D.M.R. Southern

37

83

24

*

11

*

11

10

15

*

*

D.M.R. Western

119

55

224

159

92

47

36

45

13

*

*

Eastern Region

21

25

26

23

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Kildare Div

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Laois/Offaly

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Meath Division

*

13

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Wicklow Div

11

*

17

18

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Northern Region

46

44

16

11

11

*

*

*

*

*

*

Cavan/Monaghan

*

31

12

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Donegal

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Louth Division

27

12

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Sligo/Leitrim

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Southern Region

191

74

152

146

53

82

52

64

87

32

*

Cork City

101

30

36

34

16

10

*

16

21

*

*

Cork North

15

*

17

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Cork West

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Kerry

29

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Limerick

46

32

90

91

34

68

42

48

65

23

*

South Eastern Region

18

55

24

32

25

12

*

*

13

*

*

Kilkenny/Carlow

*

*

*

11

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Tipperary

13

16

19

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Waterford Division

*

18

*

*

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

Wexford Division

*

20

*

12

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Western Region

*

*

*

11

*

24

*

*

*

*

*

Clare

*

*

*

*

*

18

*

*

*

*

*

Galway Division

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Mayo

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Roscommon/Longford Division

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

National Total

505

421

556

408

240

224

148

141

139

71

10

*denotes count was less than ten

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