Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue today. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, who sends his apologies. I hope his office contacted the Senator's before this debate.

As the Senator will be aware, the courts are independent in their functions under the Constitution and the law. The matter of scheduling court cases is administered by the Courts Service in consultation with the Judiciary. With the exception of more serious offences, criminal prosecutions involving children are generally heard in the District Court, which operates as the Children Court, with procedures specified in the Children Act 2001. The Minister for Justice plays no role in these independent functions.

The Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027, published by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, last year, contains a range of actions that aim to improve the interaction between the justice system and those young people who come into contact with it. As the Senator has noted, the strategy contains a strategic objective, objective 3.4, to prioritise processing of children and young adult cases to minimise delays, including with regard to the role of Garda case managers. This will include specific actions on how the case manager role and other mechanisms can be used to reduce delays in bringing cases to court, to minimise the number of court appearances for each child or young person, to ensure effective practice so that young persons are fully informed and aware of what is involved in the court process and to provide appropriate review mechanisms. I assure the Senator that these actions will be taken forward as part of the implementation of the strategy.

More broadly, the Government is committed to ensuring the courts are adequately resourced to ensure the efficient administration of justice and continues to commit substantial resources to enable this. There is a total gross allocation of €164 million for the courts Vote, which includes an allocation of a further €1 million for the new courts modernisation programme, building on the €8 million already provided in the Estimates for 2021 and retained for 2022.

Significant and sustained efforts have been made to minimise disruption to courts due to Covid-19, with priority continuing to be given to urgent matters such as domestic violence applications. Throughout the pandemic, the Judiciary and the Courts Service have worked closely and innovated through the use of technology to maintain the highest level of court activity possible. Addressing the waiting times built up in some areas during the pandemic while at the same time meeting the goals set out in the Courts Service modernisation programme will be a significant challenge for the courts. The Courts Service management, both nationally and locally, continues to work closely with the Judiciary to deal with the consequences of the pandemic and to look to schedule extra sittings to deal with delays within the system. However, it is likely the pressure on the courts system will remain a feature for the short to medium term.

I take on board the Senator's suggestions regarding the amendment of the Children Act and offences committed as a minor being dealt with when the person in question is a young adult. I will also bring what the Senator raised regarding juvenile liaison officers to the attention of the Minister.