Mr. Mark Wilson:

One of the projects mentioned by my colleague, Gerry McNally, is an opt-in project, which is a joint agency response to crime led by the Probation Service, the Garda Síochána and Irish Prison Service. This model is based on the high level of overlap between these services, in terms of the individuals with whom we work, and it examines how we can best utilise our statutory roles to have best effect on these individuals. To take the Deputy's example, we are targeting the opt-in initiative in east Ballymun to try to increase public confidence in areas of low-level intimidation. We are targeting a small number of prolific offenders, some of whom have come through prison, and making it clear to them that once they have been identified as part of this project, based on their level and type of offending, we will have a high level of involvement with them, either with their engagement or, if they choose not to engage, with higher levels of interference from the Garda through the way in which they are placed. The idea of opt-in is that they will continually be offered a carrot-and-stick approach. We want them to make positive life changes and will provide opportunities for change, but if this does not happen we will look to have a higher level of contact with them. Through structured temporary release programmes for persons coming out of custody - such as the community return initiative under which prisoners are obliged to do three days of community work - as well as supervision by the Probation Service and Garda activity, we can use motivation to effect change for these individuals.