Anti-social behaviour ‘an absolute plague’ in Louth
Anti-social behaiour in social housing and the impact it is having on residents of Louth County Council, and private residents, was raised at the Dundalk Municipal District October meeting
Cllr Seán Kelly raised the ongoing issue of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in social housing at the Dundalk Municipal District October meeting, saying it continues to be “an absolute plague” on good decent residents of Louth County Council and private residents who live beside council tenants.
Cllr Kelly said that tenants were refusing to engage either with council officials or Garda authorities when they are causing trouble, and that it is “becoming a nightmare”.
Acknoweldging the “great work” carried out by Cllr Kevin Meenan at the Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) in relation to working on the Council's policy on ASB, Cllr Kelly added that “stronger action” needed to be seen in relation to tenants who are causing problems.
Cllr Kevin Meenan said that he agreed with Cllr Kelly's comments, saying that ASB has been on the increase this year.
He said that there is a “spread of tenure” in social housing that includes private rental, owner occupier and council housing, that makes it “more intricate” and harder to deal with.
Cllr Meenan added that he felt An Garda Síochána has “dropped the ball” on occasions in relation to ASB and that they need “to be at the table”
He said he had been a vocal admirer and vocal critic of them in the past but called on them now to “step up to the plate”.
Responding to the councillors, Senior Executive Officer, Mr Anthony Donoghue highlighted the Community Safety Partnership which is ongoing, and said it should address a lot of the ongoing issues, adding that a lot of the issues were systemic and not Council issues.
Cllr Robert Nash said that the Community Safety Partnership was a way to address it but supported Cllr Meenan's comments in relation to An Garda Síochána and said they have been “lacking lately”.
Also commenting on the issue, Cllr Yore said that the Government needs to give updated relevant laws to address ASB, and that for over a decade it has been increasing and “national government have ignored it”.
Cllr Yore said that the laws have to be updated and that An Garda Síochana, local authorities and the housing department can only deal with laws.
The Independent councillor added, “they have negated their duties again as a government, they've broken the social contract and people are very angry on the ground, further adding, “we are descending into anarchy in relation to anti-social behaviour”.