'Make an example' - Council told to act as antisocial behaviour 'terrorising' estates across Dundalk

Dundalk councillors have raised concerns about anti-social behaviour by tenants living in social housing.

The issue was raised at the June meeting of the Dundalk Municipal District by Fianna Fáil councillor Seán Kelly.

Cllr Kelly said some tenants are “effectively terrorising their neighbours” and labelled it a “recurring problem”.

“I’m sure other Cllrs have gotten a lot of calls recently regarding antisocial behaviour within council-owned properties. It has become a recurring problem.”

The Fianna Fáil councillor said it is time to see action from the Council and called on the local authority to “make an example” of such tenants.

“But what we really need is to start to see action from the council to make an example of some of these people who are effectively terrorising their neighbours and are in council-owned properties...it shouldn’t be allowed to continue.” he said.

Fine Gael councillor Robert Nash echoed those sentiments and called for Louth County Council to establish a 12 month probationary period for social housing tenants.

“12 month probation is something that we really need to look at. Even since last month’s meeting I’ve got a number of calls,” he said.

Cllr Nash previously told the Dundalk MD’s May meeting that residents feel as though the local authority are "not doing enough background checks" on social housing tenants.

"If people are going into a house they’re on probation for a year. You might say that they’re going to behave themselves for a year and then all of a sudden you’ve got antisocial behaviour but it’s some sort of deterrent. Something needs to be put in place," he said back in May.

A spokesperson for Louth County Council said it is aware of “certain issues in estates” and said the local authority is “ proactively engaging with residents and An Garda Siochána”.

“It can be difficult,” he said.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.