New research to be launched later today will reveal that children as young as 10 in Tallaght West, Dublin, are disturbed by antisocial behaviour such as joyriding, vandalism and gangs of youths taking drinks and drugs.
The study of 140 fifth class children from the Fettercairn, Brookfield, Killinarden and Jobstown areas, shows they are aware of people's windows being broken and eggs thrown at houses for fun. They talk of their dislike of gangs of youths hanging around public areas, smoking, drinking, drug taking and, in certain cases, the bullying of younger children.
They are also aware of their parents' concerns for their safety and say many parents are taking every possible precaution to ensure they are safe and not getting in "with the wrong crowd".
The results of the study by the Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiative, a coalition of groups in the area, will be launched by the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Brian Lenihan, later today.
A previous study had said the majority of Tallaght West's children are carrying a "disproportionate burden of the inequality and poverty characterising Irish society as a whole".
Today's research also shows that the children have clear ideas about what needs to be done to improve their community. The issues they highlighted are: