3 days ago
'On-the-spot' measures urged over anti-social behaviour
'On-the-spot' measures to help tackle anti-social behaviour by youths are needed, the Dáil has heard.
Independent TD Paul Gogarty said there must be consequences for young people who carry out low-level crimes such as assaults.
Speaking during Leaders' Questions, he suggested that restrictions on social media to avoid the "Andrew Tate-ification" of young adolescents, curfews, the seizing of scooters and playstations, or fining parents as potential measures that could be implemented.
"A lot of our young people are under threat from random, violent assaults just by gangs going around, 12-year-olds, 13-year-olds.
"I had parents come to me with a lad who got a punch and a damaged eye socket just from getting a punch.
"It's abuse given to anyone. This is happening everyday, I'm not talking about the stuff that requires four mountain bike gardaí from operation Irene in an estate in my constituency where fires are lit regularly, drug dealing takes place and someone got attacked with a machete recently - that's high level stuff that needs to be dealt with, true enough.
"But it's the low-level stuff that puts people in peril walking around and many times its young people who are randomly attacked."
Mr Gogarty said there was an absence in addressing these lower-level crimes carried out by those under the age of 18.
The Taoiseach said increased anti-social behaviour was a "real issue" and that the source and evolution consistently has to be dealt with.
Micheál Martin said he believed schools deal with this well and are well ahead.
He told the Chamber there were some consequences already such as anti-social behaviour orders, the rollout of bodycams to gardaí and the expansion of youth reach programmes.
However, he said there is an absence of consequence for some low-level crimes, which is sometimes due to trying to give children a chance, and said he would raise the issue with the Minister for Justice.
