Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

Other speakers have referred to the fact that many countries have had a system of restorative justice in place for some time. The Bill raises various issues and principles of restorative justice – community restorative justice, the rights of victims and support services for them. I am sure Deputy John Halligan would agree that the Bill would benefit from the legislative process in the House. He has not had access to a legal draftsman and the Bill would benefit from going through Committee Stage by way of refinement through amendment and the extension of sections. The Bill could be supported with a view to improving, refining and amending it through the legislative process.

We should never lose sight of the fact that prevention is always better than the cure. Not only is that the case but there are also significant social and financial advantages in the prevention of crime. It is important to ensure every family has an equal opportunity to be socially included, to be part of life in their area and to have a reasonable quality of life. It is important to remember the factors that make for good social conditions. If we were to improve social conditions, crime would also be addressed. I refer to education, in particular for young people. I accept that there is a free preschool year, but it must be extended. Moneys invested in young people at an early age result in a significant payback over time.

Other factors to be considered are the improvement of educational facilities and opportunities for young people, as well as the improvement of housing conditions for families. There are 98,000 families on local authority housing lists. Employment opportunities are a considerable issue. It is hugely advantageous for families to see parents and siblings employed. That is vitally important. The payback is significant, both socially and economically when employment is available.

The provision of community facilities is important. The support of RAPID programmes is crucial in that regard, but, unfortunately, such funding has been withdrawn. We must provide community facilities and support communities. We must also put in place community services, but the funding for such services has been consistently cut back by the Government. Many of the programmes available to deprived communities across the country have lost their funding. The provision of community facilities such as youth services results in a significant payback over time, both socially and economically.

Approximately 1,500 gardaí have left the system in recent years. Community policing services have suffered most. Community gardaí on the beat build trust and confidence and make connections with young people and youth services in deprived areas. The service should, therefore, be reintroduced in communities.

I support the Bill and would like to see it progressing to Committee Stage, at which point it would be amended and refined. We should never lose sight of the fact that prevention is always better than the cure. We should, therefore, provide for investment in services in these areas.

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