McDowell vows to tackle problem of evicted

TÁNAISTE Michael McDowell yesterday pledged to tackle the problem of evicted council tenants being moved into other neighbourhoods with the help of State subsidies and then causing further trouble.

Mr McDowell, speaking at the launch of the PDs’ justice policy document in Limerick, said he wants community welfare officers to check out the background of anyone applying for rent supplements before handing out money.

The provisions of the PD combat crime plan include:

Increasing Garda numbers from 14,000 to 16,000.

Further changes to the criminal law to make it fairer for victims.

Updating of the Garda Pulse system.

Better deployment of gardaí.

Further roll-out of Garda CCTV systems.

Mr McDowell said he would give priority to dealing with the handing-out of state rent subsidies to people who are already causing problems for their neighbours. While these rent subsidies were not a Department of Justice function, he intended taking the matter up with the Community and Social Affairs Minister, Seamus Brennan, whose department runs the rent supplement scheme.

He said: “As I understand it, local authorities have the right to evict people who engage in certain forms of antisocial behaviour including violent crime and drug dealing.

“In those circumstances the local authority is free to make eviction decisions.”

He said: “The present situation would appear to be that community welfare officers don’t do checks into the background of the people they are dealing with, but deal with their situation purely on the basis of objective need for housing.”