Anti-social behaviour in some parts of Dublin is being used by drug gangs to control areas.
It's creating "hotspots" or places where anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime are particularly intense and unrelenting according to a new report.
Dublin city council's estate management strategy to tackle anti-social behaviour is based on studies in Ballymun, Darndale, the northeast inner city and the south inner city.
It says that in many of the localities where there is a high concentration of social housing, there are correlated high levels of deprivation.
Despite only 2 per cent of the population in one area being involved in criminal networks, all reports confirmed the impact their activities had was extreme.
Ballymun
In Ballymun, it says that despite huge efforts made and huge expenditure incurred in the overall regeneration of the area, it remains one of the most socially deprived parts of the country.
The main issues identified were: the surge in the supply and consumption of crack cocaine; the number of young people drawn into criminality and antisocial behaviour; open drugs markets selling to local people, and to people from outside the area; and, the lack of adequate policing resources to deal with the serious problems in the area.
Racism
Another issue raised was racism and hate crimes, with 8 per cent of applicants for social housing in Dublin city from outside the European Economic Area.
It highlighted Dublin 8 where there was persistent racial abuse, particularly of shop staff.
The council says that while there have been no evictions for several years there are now powers to tackle tenants involved in anti-social behaviour including refusing to carry out non-essential maintenance on properties.
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