The Act provides that for children at risk of becoming involved in offending or out-of-control non-offending children, family welfare conferences may be convened. This entirely preventative, inter-agency mechanism brings together the key participants, including the child and parents, to determine whether special care or protection is required or warranted. In addition, the existing Garda juvenile diversion programme will be established on a statutory basis as a means of dealing with the offending child who accepts responsibility for his or her behaviour.