Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, a fine Deputy and Minister for his community, as Senator Norris so eloquently outlined.

I enthusiastically support and welcome this motion and congratulate Senator Conway and other Fine Gael Senators who have argued for it with such conviction and evidence. Senator Bacik pointed out this proposal can be part of a cohesive approach to the overall governmental and Oireachtas justice strategies. It is critical we see our policies and programmes in that more cohesive way.

Crimes are multifaceted and most of them are the result of a complex range of social, economic, health and educational disadvantages. We must address crime in a multifaceted way, accordingly. As many Senators pointed out, the justice committee had many submissions on this issue, several of which I wish to highlight. The Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, powerfully illustrated how the Judiciary has a limited set of options and how difficult it is when low-level repeat offenders come before the courts. He stated judges would welcome if other options were available to them than simply custodial sentences or the use of the Probation Act. I was particularly impacted by his example of how a person addicted to drugs or alcohol can be sent to prison where he or she will receive a certain amount of help.

However, the underlying problems are not at all addressed in a three-month sentence. It is insufficient for a person even to begin to come to grips with some of the issues or problems that bring that person to offend and to be placed in prison. Other options must be available to the judges to address the range in a holistic way which complements that cohesive and comprehensive approach we need in terms of policies across the board.

As Senator O'Donovan and others have identified, instead of sending people to prison, a typical community court punishment could comprise a combination of community restitution assignment and mandated social services. Reference was already made to evidence that was given to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, particularly from successful community courts such as the Red Hook Community Justice Centre, which reduced the use of jail sentences by 35% and issued alternative sanctions to 78% of offenders. This in turn reduced reoffending levels - and that is what it is all about - by 20% among young offenders and by 10% for adults. The evaluation of the project concluded that it saved more money than it cost to implement a community court, and Senator Naughton referred to this notion. As experts pointed out to the committee, good results do not automatically come. They emphasised that local consultation and collaboration, along with good planning and implementation, are key to the success of the system.

I am particularly committed to the concept of community courts because of my experience over the years in west Tallaght communities, especially in the context of the Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiative, of which I was privileged to be one of the founders and leaders. It is one of three prevention and early intervention programme sites, initially funded under the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and now moving into the Government's area-based childhood programmes in terms of anti-poverty strategies. Over the past number of years in that first phase of Government support in west Tallaght we were able to implement a community safety initiative supporting local resident interaction and promoting collaborative responses to addressing local safety initiatives. The initiative sought to improve people's perceptions of safety, improve neighbour relations and promote a safe and healthy environment for children and families. In particular, it sought to engage wide community involvement and co-operation with the local Garda.

That initiative incorporated a restorative practice programme, as Senator Conway referred to regarding some of the programmes that are being implemented throughout the country. The programme promoted dialogue between wrongdoers and harmed persons, bringing communities together. Again, it was a collaborative process bringing different agencies and generations and people of different backgrounds together and having a positive impact on inter-agency collaboration and on the approach to conflict management. I make this point because I want to suggest that, as Senator Conway said, a community court system could be a very effective complement to the work that is already going on in that initiative in west Tallaght and, no doubt, in other local authority contexts throughout Ireland. A community court system could also be a great complement to the area-based childhood programs being rolled out throughout the country as part of the Government's anti-poverty strategy.

It is important that we remind ourselves and are aware of the context that is being created by support for policies from within the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Tánaiste's office. Community courts could be a great fit within the seedbeds of local communities already engaged in anti-poverty strategies. I support the development of a pilot initiative. Dublin city centre is fine but Tallaght is another possibility. That is my last shot.