Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)

Dublin Central has both prisons and prisoners. There is a disproportionate number of people in prison who come from certain areas in the constituency. I accept what the Minister stated in respect of community service, etc., but a community court could play a particular role. I acknowledge the work of the National Crime Council and the Dublin City Business Association in respect of the process relating to that report. Would it not be possible to try to establish a community court on a pilot basis within existing resources? Let us face it, the current system is not working. As one judge stated, the same people are continually being recycled through the system. Would it not be possible to use existing resources to set up a community court which could be located in the inner city, perhaps adjacent to Store Street or Pearse Street, where there are high levels of particular types of crime?

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