Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2019
240. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the upsurge in the street gang activity by young persons in areas (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to attempts by community projects and Dublin City Council to tackle the causes and consequences of this behaviour; and if funding will be made available through the LCDC to sustain the work. [10834/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very conscious of the impact that anti-social behaviour has on the quality of life for residents in our communities. Gardaí are working to tackle this, and all forms of criminality, in our communities to make them safer for all members of society.
While the allocation of all Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, I am advised by the Garda authorities that in early February 2019, as a result of an upsurge in anti-social activity by young persons in the Ballyfermot area, increased patrols were implemented by An Garda Síochána. Assistance was also provided by a number of the youth projects and local Councillors in the area. Due to a combined effort between An Garda Síochána and a variety of youth groups and local Councillors, working with the youths allegedly involved in this activity, I am advised that the problem appears to be currently under control, but Gardaí will continue to monitor this situation closely.
Similarly, An Garda Síochána has also identified hotspots in Drimnagh for public order offences including areas where youths congregate. I understand these locations are subject to regular and active Garda patrols.
I might add that a range of strong legislative provisions are available to An Garda Síochána to combat anti-social behaviour, including provisions under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Acts, the Criminal Damage Act and the Intoxicating Liquor Acts. There are also the incremental provisions contained in the Criminal Justice Act 2006 which provide, in Part 11, for warnings and civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by adults and, in Part 13 of the Act, for warnings, good behaviour contracts and civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by children.
In relation to funding, I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Youth Justice Service, which operates under the auspices of my Department, provides funding to support the operation of 106 Garda Youth Diversion Projects.
Funding support for youth justice community interventions is based on evidence that diversion programmes, in the form of high-quality preventative intervention, can do more to reduce crime than more costly custodial options. The projects are managed by a range of Community-Based Organisations (CBO) which are required to ensure that best practice is followed in terms of quality of service and financial accountability.
The projects aim to bring about the conditions whereby the behavioural patterns of young people towards law and order can develop and mature through positive interventions. They are primarily targeted at 12-17 year old “at risk” youths in communities where a specific need has been identified.
However, while An Garda Síochána will continue to tackle problems in relation to anti-social behaviour head-on, they cannot eradicate the problem alone.
Specifically in relation to young offenders, it is also up adults, particularly parents and guardians, to ensure that children are raised to be respectful and law-abiding. These lessons begin in the home, are further reinforced in our schools and then by society in general. We must all work together to ensure that such behaviour is never normalised and is tackled immediately
To be of assistance, I am providing the Deputy with a list of Garda Youth Diversion Programmes operating in the areas highlighted in his question. Similarly, I am also providing him with a list of projects aimed at tackling drug-related problems in communities which are funded by the Department of Health.
Garda Youth Diversion Projects in Ballyfermot, Drimnagh, Basin Street and St. Thereas’s.
Ballyfermot
ABLE
CODY
Drimnagh
Clay
BRÚ*
Basin Street
DÁN
St. Theresa’s
DÁN
The above five projects are currently engaged with approximately 85 young people which include young people from the above mentioned areas.
*Note while the BRÚ projects catchment area does not include Drimnagh they would engage with a high number of young people from the area due to the nature of work done and location of the project.
|
Drugs Task Force |
Drugs Task Force Type |
Project Code |
Project Name |
Agency |
Allocation 2019 |
|
Ballyfermot LDATF |
LDATF |
BF2B-3 |
Familibase |
CDYSB |
51,201.00 |
|
Ballyfermot LDATF |
LDATF |
BF2-10 |
Ballyfermot Social Intervention Initiative |
CDYSB |
97,742.00 |
|
Ballyfermot LDATF |
LDATF |
BF2-14 |
Matt Talbot Community Trust |
CDYSB |
106,503.00 |
|
Dublin South Inner City LDATF |
LDATF |
SIC-5 |
Westland Row CBS Afterschool Project |
CDYSB |
9,295.00 |
|
Dublin South Inner City LDATF |
LDATF |
SIC2-6 |
Poolbeg Training |
CDYSB |
114,975.00 |
|
Dublin South Inner City LDATF |
LDATF |
SIC2-12 |
Whitefriar Aikido Club Juniors |
CDYSB |
3,143.00 |
|
Dublin South Inner City LDATF |
LDATF |
SIC2B-12 |
School St Youth Project |
CDYSB |
48,630.00 |
|
Canal Communities LDATF |
LDATF |
CC2-1 |
St Michael's Youth Project Ltd Skills based Co-ordinator |
CDYSB |
57,130.00 |
|
Canal Communities LDATF |
LDATF |
CC2-2 |
Bluebell Youth Project |
CDYSB |
49,365.00 |
|
Canal Communities LDATF |
LDATF |
CC2-24 |
St Michael's Family Resource Centre Regeneration Worker |
CDYSB |
42,392.00 |
|
Canal Communities LDATF |
LDATF |
CC2B-6 |
YEAH Project |
CDYSB |
60,622.00 |
|
Canal Communities LDATF |
LDATF |
CC2-5 |
Prison Outreach Worker |
D/JLR (P&W) |
47,667.00 |
|
Canal Communities LDATF |
LDATF |
CC2-9 |
Community Prison Links Worker |
D/JLR (P&W) |
47,478.00 |
|
Canal Communities LDATF |
LDATF |
CC2-31 |
Community Development Post |
DCC |
11,317.00 |
|
Canal Communities LDATF |
LDATF |
CC2-32 |
Community Development Post |
DCC |
11,317.00 |
|
Canal Communities LDATF |
LDATF |
CC2-33 |
Community Development Post |
DCC |
11,317.00 |
|
Dublin 12 LDATF |
LDATF |
D2-6 |
Drug Education Worker |
CDYSB |
53,090.00 |
|
Dublin 12 LDATF |
LDATF |
D2-20 |
ARC Under 18 Programme |
CDYSB |
7,606.00 |
|
Dublin 12 LDATF |
LDATF |
D2-11b |
Crumlin Youthreach: Literacy Project |
CDYSB |
9,701.00 |
