Probation for new tenants suggested in report on drugs

DUBLIN Corporation is to consider giving probationary tenancies to new tenants to make it easier to evict suspected drug dealers. The recommendation is made in the report by the Lord Mayor's Commission on Drugs published yesterday.

However, commission secretary Ms Evelyn Hanlon said it was difficult to see how probationary agreements would work in practice. "The idea came from the communities. We're committed to exploring all the legal implications." The report also recommends the setting up of a special housing court to deal with evictions and disputes. Since the end of last January an average of three tenants a month have been evicted "for anti-social behaviour which related specifically to drugs" under the existing system.

"Every Friday morning we already use the District Court for our housing cases. A special housing court could be set up with judges who are skilled in this area.

Ms Hanlon said the report recommended a mediation and conciliation service and "policing forums" for estates which could solve problems before they reach the eviction stage.

The commission said it was conscious of protecting tenants "against whom allegations are as yet unproved". There was a need to review the accommodation of "addicts who had gone through recovery and rehabilitation, who were previously evicted for drug dealing".

Eastern Health Board local area development co-ordinator Ms Carmel Dunne said the board expected to set up a further 15 satellite clinics in the next two months. This would bring the total number to 26 in the Dublin area.

She said the recommendations of the report were included in the board's service plans for which almost Pounds 14 million was set aside this year.

On policing, the report said there was still a lack of trust between gardai and community groups, despite the Garda initiative, Operation Dochas.

One example cited was a community meeting with a local garda. The officer related well to the young people in the area by day, "exercising discretion in relation to misdemeanours".

But at night the same garda had to patrol the area in a public order vehicle known locally as "the Beast". Community activists said the vehicle frightened young children and alienated them from the gardai.

"The garda present at the meeting explained that it was a necessary evil since other vehicles were not able to withstand the abuse received, and patrol cars were regularly rammed by gangs of youths in stolen vehicles.

The report says a better community partnerships would "develop a new breed of officer who acts as a direct link between the statutory body and the people in the community".

The corporation is also setting up agreements to involve communities in decisions and budgeting for maintenance of local authority housing. The report recommends formal "estate management" agreements between the statutory agencies and tenants.

Methadone maintenance programmes should be provided and rehabilitation had been "seriously under-resourced" the report says. And a formal partnership between statutory agencies and local communities, such as the National Drugs Strategy Team and the Local Area Drugs Task Forces, should be given statutory responsibility for the drug problem.

The commission was established in March by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Brendan Lynch. It accepted submissions for its report and the membership was drawn from the Garda, Eastern Health Board, community and welfare groups and Dublin Corporation.