Anti social activity is rampant in area
THE HSE can refuse rent subsidy to an applicant, but the question is, have they ever done so?
This was the question posed by Cllr Diarmuid Scully in City Hall on Monday, when it was revealed that 20 families have been forced out of the Fairview Crescent in Garryowen, due to “shocking” anti social activity.
It emerged on this Tuesday that one family had been issued with a court order to be out of their house within 60 days.
“All anti social activity is criminal and people’s lives are made miserable and absolute hell, and the HSE has failed to do its job in this area but unless we get the courts to back us up with more support from the Garda Siochana, we are fighting a losing battle,” said Cllr Scully
Armed with a new draft policy on anti-social behaviour, councillors and City Hall executives heard Cllr Pat Kennedy say:
“We need to be more hard nosed in dealing with this – the garda commissioner should come to Limerick and see what is happening in Fairview Crescent. There is a breakdown in law and order and the people are not being properly protected from these criminals who should not be rehoused.
“It’s incredible that the organisations of the State have failed the people of Fairview – it’s a terrible indictment on the Minister for Justice. – criminals should not be rehoused – we should ask for repossession of the house – we are not talking about “evictions”, we are entitled to repossess our properties”.
The new draft strategy does not go far enough, according to Cllr Kevin Kiely who said it is a poor reflection on the Department of Justice
“We are taking about people who are breaking every housing law – they are into drugs, murder and criminal activity and are, at the same time, renting houses from the council – we have no obligation to give them houses but I spoke to someone in the Planning Department who said, ‘do you think my job is worth going out and examining these people – I’m afraid to do so”.
Senior executive officer, Jean Ryan, assured Cllr Jim Long that the Draft Policy document has been vetted by the council’s legal department and director of services, Kieran Lehane said that it will be presented to Court.
