Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the services which are provided by the Village Project (details supplied) in Dublin 11 to clients of the probation and welfare service; the number of clients who have been seen by the project each year since its inception; the male and female split and the age range; the referral agencies and process of these clients; the programmes delivered by the project; if there has been any change in the direction of the project; the other Departments which have an engagement with the project and its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14104/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Village Project is a community-based, day assessment service that offers a comprehensive assessment to young people from the Finglas, Ballymun and surrounding areas. Following a request from the Department of Education and Science, my Department commenced funding the Village Project on 1 January 2004. Prior to that, funding had been provided by the Minister for Education and Science. Since 1 January 2004, 21 males and 12 females have been assessed. As my Department, through the probation and welfare service, is now funding the Village Project, the project will, in future, cater mainly for children on whom a request has been made by the courts to the probation and welfare service for a probation officer's report. It may also provide an assessment service to referrals from other relevant State and community based services when resources allow. It will also be open to children who have had contact with the centre in the past to attend occasionally where this is considered to be in the best interest of the children concerned.