Re-establishment of Kildare-based community forum sought following alleged surge in antisocial behaviour

The re-establishment of a community forum based in County Kildare is being sought following an alleged surge in antisocial behaviour in the region.

The alleged uptick in antisocial behaviour was heard at the latest Athy Municipal District meeting, which took place on Monday, February 16 last.

The claim originated from Labour Party Cllr Aoife Breslin, who raised the matter via a motion she submitted to Kildare County Council (KCC).

As part of this motion, she requested KCC to re-establishes the Woodstock Forum, and to also "invite all residents and all agencies working in the Woodstock area of Athy to participate in the Forum".

Her motion was seconded by the Mayor of the MD, Fine Gael Cllr Ivan Keatley.

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KCC RESPONSE

Replying to Cllr Breslin's motion, KCC issued a lengthy response via the report it presented at the meeting.

KCC's response read as follows: "It is understood that the Woodstock Forum emerged in 2013 in response to a range of issues at the time and operated to approximately 2019, and that it primarily involved An Garda Síochána, Elected Members and community representatives from the Woodstock area.

"Now, 13 years after the creation of that Forum, there are several formal processes and an increased range of agencies in place, actively supporting the community from a needs-based approach.

"The Community Safety Partnership for Kildare has been formed, with 27 members including representation from elected members, An Garda Síochána, residents and a host of state agencies and voluntary sector representatives."

KCC continued: "The Partnership had its induction on February 13 last, with its first formal meeting to be held on March 12, 2026. 

"Its remit includes developing coordinated interagency approaches to community safety; this is the appropriate statutory forum to identify and quantify issues, and to agree best-practice, sustainable inter-agency approaches to address anti-social activity, promote pro-social activity and promote safety.

"In addition to this, on the ground in Athy, including the Woodstock area, particularly in the last five years, an extremely active Athy inter-agency operational group has developed, with almost 50 staff representing statutory, non-statutory and community based agencies, interacting weekly and meeting quarterly, to share information, pool resources and develop pro-social activities and jointly funded programmes.

"This group also comprises garda representation."

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ACTIVE GROUP

KCC further said: "The Sláintecare Healthy Communities (SHC) Local Implementation Group is currently active within Athy, meeting bi-monthly, engaging cross-sectoral agencies and organisations to focus on needs spanning the social determinants of
health of the Athy community. This network is an approved structure of the SHC Programme, Local Authority and Kildare LCDC.

"In Q4 of 2025, the Community Department invested almost €25,000 in improvements to the location of the Empowering Communities house in Townspark; A collaboration with the Housing Department.

"A further [circa] €50,000 of investment is planned in 2026 to improve play facilities in a joint project with the Parks and Community Departments. These collaborations and interventions are emerging from the cross-agency engagement with residents, to meaningfully respond to their needs."

In addition, KCC maintained that the capacity of the community in this area, and wider Athy [region], has "improved markedly, with many groups now proactively pursuing funding and engaging with representatives of these agencies on the ground".

KCC explained: "This includes KCC staff such as the Community Worker, Sláintecare Coordinator, Healthy Ireland Coordinator, and partner projects such as Empowering Communities.

"The focus of all agencies is to empower local communities, and individuals to enable them and their children to engage in positive social activity.

"None of the referenced KCC employed staff active in community-work in this area and regularly engaging with residents has received a request to re-form the Woodstock Forum, and it is not proposed to replace existing structures and new structures."

KCC concluded by suggesting: "If the members wish to receive offline briefings from the Council team and key partners involved in this area, on the extent of the ongoing and planned programmes and activities, this can be arranged."

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'RESIDENTS IN DESPAIR'

Speaking further on her motion, Cllr Breslin told KCC that several residents in the area have contacted her in relation to alleged issues in the region.

She also alleged to KCC that the local playground was not in use at present as it recently sustained criminal damage.

"The fire service is constantly being called to the area," she added.

Furthermore, Cllr Breslin said that the situation "has left a number of residents in despair".

She also criticised alleged instances of illegal dumping at the playground.

Moreover, she asserted to KCC: "The problems are now worse than ever; people cannot live like this."

Following this, she urged KCC to re-establish the Forum, adding that it "worked extremely well" in assisting the Woodstock community.

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EXTRA INVOLVEMENT

Cllr Breslin added: "I see the good work that's [also] taking place in the area; we as councillors need to be more involved in it.

"I am asking KCC to reconsider its report and to meet with the members of the MD on a regular basis regarding this issue."

Mayor Keatley expressed support for her sentiments, adding: "Like what Cllr Breslin said, what is the point of being local representatives if we cannot get involved [in attempting to resolve the alleged issues]?"

Cllr Breslin then briefly entered the discussion again, and pointed out that there is no soccer club in the region.

This prompted her party colleague, Cllr Mark Leigh, to remark that efforts were being made to reinstate the club.

Another councillor who was in attendance at the meeting by virtual means, Veralouise Behan, also sided with Cllr Breslin's motion.

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'I CANNOT GO AGAINST THE INSTRUCTION THAT I HAVE RECEIVED'

However, one KCC official who was present at the meeting, Tony Shanahan, told the councillors: "Attending the Forum would not be appropriate, according to the Safety Officer.

"There is no basis on a national level," he explained. "I cannot go against the instruction that I have received."

Mr Shanahan also suggested that KCC could look into the possibility of installing CCTV in the area in order to address the alleged issues.

In response, Cllr Breslin told him: "I understand the constraints of legislation here, but I need to find a solution."

She also claimed that she was aware of some residents in the area who are now considering moving away from it because of the alleged surge in antisocial behaviour.

Mr Shanahan responded: "I would be open to a meeting with the councillors about this, but not a formal Forum."

In addition, Mayor Keatley noted that there had been delays in the Local Community Safety Partnership initiative.

Labour Party Cllr Aoife Breslin. Photograph credit: kildarecoco.ie

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.