NEW tenancy enforcement powers have given Limerick City and County Council greater authority to combat anti-social behaviour.
Enactment provisions contained in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 dealing with anti-social behaviour and tenancy breaches have been introduced since April.
The council has received 80 complaints regarding its tenants with 36 cases being opened. This has resulted in eight warnings being issued and four properties being taken back into stock following service of abandonment notices and one property being surrendered following a serious incident.
“I know from personal experience that the tenancy enforcement officer with the council is very proactive and the level of action in relation to the councils tenants has become far more quick and effective. Any actions are dependent on the public reporting any anti-social behaviour to the council without which nothing can happen.
“In this regard, the council will not make the name of any persons registering complaints public so they can be reassured of their confidentiality and safety.”
Cllr Butler said that in his own area of Raheen/Dooradoyle, local residents have grown frustrated and in some cases fearful from the behaviour of some council tenants. Often, he claimed, these individuals bring gangs of friends from outside the area into the locality and are causing serious issues for local residents.
“I have reports of lads as young as 10 and 12 threatening local residents who have challenged them when seen vandalising cars. This was followed with a rock through their door window. We have had groups of lads setting reeds and grass in fields on fire. These are not all council tenants but some are and they can often act as ring masters,” he concluded.
