To ask the Minister for Communities whether any assessment has been made of the time taken by the Housing Executive to resolve persistent antisocial behaviour cases.

This is an operational matter for the Housing Executive. I have sought the information requested from the Interim Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows:

“Each investigation into anti-social behaviour is fact and case specific and therefore the time taken for each case may be different. In this context, no assessment of the nature suggested has been undertaken, nor is the time for which cases are open specifically measured. The Housing Executive tackles anti-social behaviour by treating each case individually and judged on its own merits; responses and actions will necessarily depend on the number of, severity of and time between incident(s), alongside the available evidence.

In most cases there will be a requirement to demonstrate that an incremental and proportionate response has been used, and this may include the use of warning letters, support for underlying issues, mediation or a Community Restorative Justice resolution. Where individuals fail to respond to offers of assistance, or where the anti-social behaviour is of a sufficiently serious nature then the Housing Executive may take action using our statutory powers to protect victims. These powers include proceedings to take possession of a Housing Executive property or seeking an injunction or an Anti-Social Behaviour Order. Each of these measures is dependent on the case meeting the threshold for the court to grant the relevant order.”