COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

QUESTION NO. 8

QUESTION: Councillor E. Higgins

"To ask the Manager to report on the extent to which the mediation process in relation to anti social behaviour is sucessful in the Lucan Electoral Area?"

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council has for numerous years engaged the services of the Mediation Bureau based within the county to deal with neighbour disputes. This service is run by voluntary mediators and volunteer groups.

The Mediation Bureau is used by the Anti Social Unit, Housing Department as a tool, where appropriate, to prevent the escalation of neighbour disputes within the Local Authority Housing Estates.  Mediation is a way of dealing with conflict where neighbour disputes may start off small but can escalate.   Early intervention can be crucial in preventing such escalation.  Mediation and training have positive outcomes for individuals involved and there is a ripple effect into our local communities.

 The Anti Social Unit referred 2 cases, in 2013 and 18 cases, in 2012 for the Lucan area to the service for mediation. Feedback back from the service has confirmed that all cases except one case referred to mediation service have been resolved through this process.  In relation to the case that was not resolved, the appropriate enforcement action was taken by the anti social unit.

 The majority of tenants who were involved in the neighbour disputes engaged with the process and in turn prevented an escalation of the dispute within the community. The positive outcome from this process is the result of tenants remaining in their homes.  Failure to engage in the service may have resulted in enforcement proceedings being taken by the Anti Social Unit and ultimately resulting in a Notice to quit being served on the individuals concerned.