Quarterly housing forum meetings in Dublin 15 could soon return after being suspended for more than two years, following renewed calls from Sinn Féin councillor Angela Donnelly.
Cllr Donnelly (pictured above) raised the issue at an April local area meeting, submitting a motion seeking an update on plans to restart the forums, which had previously brought together residents, council officials and community representatives to discuss local issues.
In its response, Fingal County Council said the forums played an important role in community engagement and tackling anti-social behaviour.
“The Dublin 15 Housing Forum offers residents an opportunity to work with the Council, raise concerns and gather feedback regarding issues in their community,” the housing department said.
“In particular, the forum provides the Council with a mechanism to gather information concerning anti-social behaviour and to investigate, as far as reasonably practicable in conjunction with colleagues from other areas within the Council and statutory partners.”
The council confirmed that, following discussions at an area committee meeting in March, the housing team is now working with the community division to identify representative groups in Dublin 15 with a view to restarting the forum “as soon as possible”.
Welcoming the response, Cllr Donnelly said anti-social behaviour had become an increasing concern across the area in recent years.
“We have seen increased scrambler bike and electric scooter activity in Hartstown Park causing injuries to gardai and creating a no-go area for some residents,” she said.
She also pointed to reports of open drug dealing around parks and local shops, graffiti linked to rival groups, property damage and violent attacks on young people.
“Young people are being targeted for possessions like phones, bikes and clothing, sometimes resulting in serious injuries,” she added.
Cllr Donnelly said a joined-up approach involving local communities, the council and An Garda Síochána was needed to address the problems.
“I have been seeking a collaborative approach from all stakeholders for some time now,” she said.
“No group or agency can solve these issues on their own. We need to work with communities to make their areas safer.”
She said measures such as improved youth facilities, better lighting in public spaces and stronger co-operation between communities and gardai would all help tackle the issues.
“As the biggest landlord in Dublin 15 and the owner of all the public spaces, Fingal County Council must be central to co-ordinating solutions,” she added