Fingal to launch online anti-social behaviour reporting tool for council tenants
Fingal County Council is set to introduce an online platform allowing council tenants to report anti-social behaviour, councillors have been told.
The digital reporting tool is being developed as part of an updated strategy aimed at improving how the local authority responds to complaints ranging from noise nuisance and neighbour disputes to more serious incidents involving drug-related activity, intimidation and threats.
Speaking at the July meeting of Fingal County Council, senior housing official Joan Kernan said anti-social behaviour could have a significant impact on residents and communities.
“Anti-social behaviour can impact the quality of life of residents and local communities and cause fear, stress and insecurity. It can disrupt people’s daily lives,” she said.
Ms Kernan acknowledged that some residents may be reluctant to report anti-social behaviour for fear of reprisals from neighbours.
“In some instances, people might have a fear of making a complaint in case their neighbour knows they complained against them, but everything is received in confidence,” she said.
The council currently manages approximately 7,400 housing tenancies across Fingal. At present, complaints of anti-social behaviour can be made in person, by phone or by email.
Fine Gael councillor Luke Corkery welcomed the move, saying it would encourage residents who may otherwise feel intimidated into coming forward.
“This will encourage people who might otherwise be intimidated by threats,” he said.
Meanwhile Fianna Fáil councillor Cathal Haughey said councillors regularly hear from residents affected by persistent anti-social behaviour.
“We are contacted every week, every day, by really decent, hardworking people who are on the housing list, people who’ve never put a foot wrong, never come into contact with the gardaí,” he said.
“We’ve also been made aware of cases of council tenants who are terrorising people, terrorising communities, terrorising their whole road – people who are a nightmare to live beside,” the councillor added.