No incidents of joyriding reported last year and only one in 2022

NO INCIDENTS of joyriding were reported to the Council for the Clondalkin area in 2023, with just one reported in 2022.

That is what Councillors were informed of by the Council in its Anti-Social Report for 2023 at last months’ Clondalkin meeting.

Councillor William Carey (SF) sought clarification as to how the figures are arrived at as he felt that some of the figures appeared to be low.

In reply the manager, Mary Connell said there could be multiple complaints related to one incident. Cllr Carey asked further whether one complaint that is constant is classed as one, which Ms Connell affirmed was the case. She added that all the complaints would build up a case if the Council had to go further than the verbal and the formal warnings and if they were going to go down the road of going to court.

Councillor Francis Timmons (Ind) said that anti-social behaviour seemed to be on the increase from what he is hearing and that one of the problems is the fear around reporting matters because of drugs and because of drug dealers and that people are afraid of being targeted. He asked for guidance from the Council in this regard, for example whether people had to give their name.

Ms Connell replied that any reports made are taken in confidence, that there is a Whatsapp message facility where people can send in complaints anonymously, and they can also call or email the Council.

In 2023 there were 82 incidents in total reported to South Dublin County Council

(SDCC), with 93 reported in 2022.

In 2023 there were 87 complaints in total reported, with 84 reported in 2022.

Four incidents of drugs activity were reported to SDCC in 2023, and also in 2022, while two incidents of criminal activity were reported in 2023, with six reported in 2022.

Five incidents of Violence/intimidation/ harassment were reported in 2023 with nine reported in 2022.

Only two incidents of vandalism were reported in both 2022 and 2023 while there were six incidents of the physical condition of gardens reported in 2023, with 18 reported in 2022.

There were 24 incidents of a vacant house reported in 2023 with 21 reported in 2022 and 14 incidents of noise/disturbance were reported in 2023, with 8 reported in 2022.

Regarding actions taken by the Council there were 109 housecall /inspections made in 2023 with 128 made in 2022, while there were eight surrenders obtained in 2023 with nine obtained in 2022.

In 2023 there were 49 interviews made with 103 made in 2022.