COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

MOTION NO. 5

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

That this Committee expresses it’s concern over the continuing serious levels of anti-social behaviour in St. Finian’s Estate and requests the Manager to present a detailed report, for discussion, detailing the number of recorded incidents of anti-social behaviour and actions in response in the estate in 2010 and to outline other possible strategic-level responses which may be considered to restore the quality-of-life and personal safety of concerned residents.

REPORT:

The Council is not aware of "continuing serious levels of anti-social behaviour in St. Finian’s Estate"  The Housing Department has a dedicated team of Allocation Support Officers for the County.  The Allocations Support Unit currently has 3 officers who are assigned to work in the Clondalkin / Lucan area. 

Anti social behaviour statistics for 2009 and 2010 (January – December) hereunder

The following report outlines the various avenues open to the public to report anti social activity for the Lucan / Clondalkin area.

Customer Care

Additional staff resources, through the Council’s Customer Care Centre, County Hall, Tallaght,  (comprising fifteen no. team members) now available to process complaints from members of the public in relation to anti social behaviour and other housing business.

Housing Clinics

Two no Housing Clinics are  held weekly  for residents of Lucan/Clondalkin areas – a clinic is held in the Civic Offices, Clondalkin every Thursday 10 – 11am with a 2^nd clinic held in the Ronanstown CYC, Neilstown Shopping centre 11.30a.m. to 1pm every Tuesday.  The purpose of the clinics is to afford members of the public an opportunity to discuss housing related matters including allegations of anti social behaviour. The Clinics are attended by the Council’s Housing Estate Management Office and the local Community Garda.

 Confidential freephone number/email

 The Council’s Allocations Support Unit offers a confidential freephone number where tenants / member of the public may ring and leave information relating to an incident of anti social activity in the area.  Members of the public are actively encouraged to do so as to ensure the best response form the local authority. The freephone number is checked twice daily Mon – Fri – complaints are logged by reference to category of complaint.

There are three categories of complaint for varying degrees of anti social behaviour, these categories are outlined in the Anti Social Behaviour Strategy which was adopted by the members in November 2010.

The aim of the strategy is to create and sustain a safe and peaceful living environment for the tenants of South Dublin County Council by actively tackling anti social behaviour through prevention, enforcement, support and rehabilitation.  The categorization of incidents of anti-social behaviour provides a mechanism for prioritizing investigation of anti-social complaints  having regard to the gravity and impact of the incident.

Anti social officers

The Council’s Housing Estate Management Team comprises of a team of dedicated Allocations Support Officers who work on an area basis. Officers for the Lucan/Clondalkin area are available Monday to Thurs 9am to 5pm (Friday 9am to 4pm) to meet with any individual /community group who may wish to make a formal complaint about anti social behaviour.  Meetings are convened at a pre-determined location by agreement with the complainant.  Direct contact can be made with the Allocations Support Unit by phoning 414 9265 or 1800 200 245 Freephone number.

Complaints regarding anti social behaviour are dealt with in the strictest confidence.

St Finian's Estate

In relation to St Finian's Estate, Lucan, the residents association in conjunction with the Estate Management section, Housing Department undertook a substantial amount of work in this area. There have been various cleanups of this estate over the years, entry into the Beautiful South Competition with funding provided from the Estate Management Section for bedding plants and flowers.

Works were also undertaken in the St Finian's Estate area such as the erection of railings on walls to prevent anti social behaviour, the shop unit in the area which attracted  perpetrators of anti social behaviour has been demolished and palisade fencing is now erected around this site to prevent further anti social activity at this location.  The house which is adjacent to the site where the shop formerly stood, is also due to be allocated in the near future. 

Listed below are the number of anti social actions, incidents and complaints for the area for the period January to December, 2010. 

St Finians Estate	Jan – Dec 2010
Reported Incidents	3
Actions taken	15

 Incidents of anti social behaviour in the St Finians estate area range from children nuisance, noise / disturbance and squatters / illegal occupiers.   Actions have been taken in the period January to December, 2010 which involved house calls, interviews of tenants, warning issued, Garda consultation etc.

 The Allocations Support Unit will continue to ensure that all complaints received are investigated fully and will take the appropriate action where necessary. The Allocations Support Officers have regular meetings with the Garda and any incidents of anti social behaviour can also be discussed at this meeting and a plan of operation put in place to deal with same.