Concerns over security in social housing

CONCERNED councillors raised the issue of anti social behaviour occuring in council housing estates, such as drug dealing and loud music, which is reported to be leaving people feeling that they are in a position of having no option but to relocate.

‘It’s a bit bizarre that people would leave rather than deal with the problem of anti social behavior. There needs to be a code of practise on managing this behaviour in relation to security, as it needs to be more rigulously enforced because that’s the only solution,’ said Cllr Diarmuid Deverux.

‘It would appear that there isn’t resources. There is great frustration that there is no enforcement or reprecussions, and I’m not sure what the solution is, but it needs to be happen as there are these cases across the county,’ said Cllr Ó’Súilleabháin.

Cllr Farrell said that these situations are putting people in torment.

‘It’s just not right and it escalates to a point where it is impossible to live in that situation. People are afraid of reprecussions, they are told it will be handled confidentiality and with descretion but it’s not enough to encourage reporting.

‘ The more times you record incidents and get it out there, that’s the record and the track for the Council. The question is how to you ensure confidence with people that it won’t be their names going out there, that’s the big fear,’ she said.

Cllr Byrne said that rapid intervention is needed, as the longer these things go for, the more difficult it becomes along with the added frustration.

Councillors were told by a representative from the housing department of Wexford County Council that someone can apply for a transfer after 12 months and that all reports of anti social behavour are taken seriously and investigated immediately in confidence.

Difficulty of eviction, in terms of the Council making someone homeless was highlighted.

‘We have to be satisifed enough to go to through the legal process, it’s a long process. We try solve the issue with engagement, in the practise of mediation,’ she said.

‘We have to have all of our ducks in a row before we go down that route and it’s not that we are inactive about it’.

Director of services Eddie Taaffe pointed out that these were extreme cases being highlighted.

‘ The majority of cases are solved from a couple of calls from a tenant liason officer. We are tackling it and getting good results,’ he said.

Councillors were told these cases will take time but Cllr Donohoe said that are no incentives for those at fault to stop.

‘ They are our tenants and we can only put them out in an extreme case. They have this attitude that they can carry on and the Council will give them another house,’ he said.