Ms Deirdre Malone:

In respect of the numbers, in fact it is a commonly-held myth that the numbers of children being detained or being involved in the criminal justice system are increasing. In fact, it was necessary to reduce the provision at Oberstown because there was not as much need as had been expected. The Irish Penal Reform Trust hopes this will continue, that is, where alternatives to imprisonment are used, where imprisonment is used as a last resort and where diversion is used. The latter in fact is the answer because as far as I can see, it does no one any good to end up in the criminal justice system. The answer is to deal with the issues as they arise. Prevention and early intervention is the most cost effective and successful way to ensure that children stay outside the criminal justice system and achieve as much as they can and contribute to society.