Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The anti-social behaviour strategy sets out an important high level framework for housing authorities to plan for the prevention and reduction of anti-social behaviour in their housing stock. Section 34 specifies the principal objectives of a strategy, notably the promotion of co-operation with other persons, including the Garda, to avoid duplication of effort. It also outlines the matters that may be dealt with in a strategy and sets out the bodies that must be consulted in drawing up a strategy, including the HSE. The HSE has a central role in terms of family intervention and mediation services, and I am satisfied that the issue of inter-agency co-operation is given sufficient standing in the provisions to allow for protocols to be agreed locally and for practical actions to support vulnerable families of the type envisaged in the proposed amendment. I do not propose to accept these amendments.