John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 71: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied that the juvenile diversion programme has sufficient resources to address the issues that come under its remit; if he will provide figures for its staffing levels and finance in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35756/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Children Act 2001, which came into law in May 2002, gave a statutory basis to the Garda diversion programme, which includes a restorative justice aspect. This programme has proven to be highly successful in diverting young people away from crime by offering guidance and support to juveniles and their families. In the more serious cases, juveniles are placed under the supervision of Garda juvenile liaison officers, who are specially trained members of the Garda Síochána responsible for administering the programme at the local level. I am informed by the Garda authorities that in the year 2003, the Garda national juvenile office received 19,915 referrals under the programme relating to 17,043 individual offenders. The number of juvenile referrals processed by the national juvenile office in 2004 was 20,607. Early assessments indicated a very high level of satisfaction from those involved in the process.

The diversion programme is in place on a nationwide basis. Resource implications are constantly under review and applications for additional resources are made on a case by case basis when and where necessary. In addition to the programme, there are in existence more than 60 Garda youth diversion projects targeted towards at risk youngsters around the country.

These Garda youth diversion projects, which along with the diversion programme operate under the aegis of the national juvenile office, are a community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiative aimed at diverting young persons from becoming involved — or further involved — in anti-social and-or criminal behaviour, by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve long-term employability prospects. By doing so, the projects also contribute to improving the quality of life within communities and enhancing Garda-community relations. The number of such projects has grown from 12 in 1997 to 64 at present — a process made possible, in part, by funding under the National Development Plan 2000-06. I am committed to the continuing development and, as resources permit, the expansion of such projects. Proposals made by the Garda Síochána to my Department on establishing further projects are examined within the context of available resources.

In publishing the details last week of the Abridged Estimates for 2006, I outlined a 14-point package of initiatives in line with the commitment of considerable additional financial resources to the Garda Vote. One of these initiatives involves an extra €1.2 million to be allocated to the various youth diversion projects, bringing the total available for these highly successful interventions to €6.6million. I have now asked the Commissioner to bring forward proposals for further community-based initiatives in this area in the light of the additional funding announced today. It is intended to extend further these schemes across the country over the next two years. The target is to have established 100 of these schemes nationwide by end 2007.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that in 1999 there were 84 gardaí employed operationally as juvenile liaison officers, JLOs, in the various divisions throughout the country. Two additional posts have since been created in July 2004 and May 2005 to bring this number to 86, together with eight JLO sergeants. In addition, the national juvenile office has a staff of one superintendent, two inspectors and two sergeants. The administration in the office is carried out by these two sergeants and four civilian staff.

The national juvenile office is one of four constituent elements that make up the national community relations section. As the annual budget for the national community relations section is not divided between the four units it is not possible to determine the 2005 budget for the national juvenile office. Furthermore, certain related expenditure items, such as the provision of motor vehicles, information technology and other support services, are accounted for on a centralised national basis. In addition, the salary costs of the 86 JLO gardaí and eight JLO sergeants working in the various divisions throughout the country are accounted for centrally within the Garda Vote and are not reflected in the above figure of €2.75 million. Consequently it is not possible to provide, for any particular year, budget details on an individual Garda unit basis for those additional nationally provided services.

Ongoing evaluation of restorative justice practice is being carried out by the Garda research unit. All Garda juvenile liaison officers have received training in restorative justice and over half have received training in mediation skills. It is expected that the ongoing development of restorative justice within the diversion programme will lead to a significant reduction in the incidence of recidivism.

The Garda authorities and I remain strongly committed to the principle and practice of diversion in the criminal justice system, a commitment warranted by consistent findings of national and international criminological research. Although the Garda diversion programme and other youth diversion projects are not appropriate for all juveniles or in all situations, they nevertheless provide an important intervention in the lives of those juveniles who have taken a wrong turn in the process of maturing into young adults. Research indicates that of all those formally diverted from prosecution, some 88% do not come to the attention of the Garda Síochána again by their 18th birthday.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 72: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of young persons involved in the Garda Youth Diversion programmes; the type of diversion programmes available; the success rate of the programmes; his plans to expand those programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35742/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Garda youth diversion projects are community based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people from becoming involved, or further involved, in anti-social and-or criminal behaviour by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve prospects of employability. The projects are funded by my Department and administered by the community relations section of the Garda Síochána. Currently, 64 projects are being funded. In addition to the Garda youth diversion projects, there are seven mainstreamed local drugs task force projects which are associated with Garda youth diversion projects. They seek to educate and divert young people who are at risk of becoming involved in substance misuse. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the projects cater for approximately 2,500 participants per annum.

Garda youth diversion projects are a tangible measure of crime prevention and reflect the commitment of my Department and the Garda Síochána to multi-agency partnerships in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour at community level. The role of the youth diversion projects is to bring about conditions whereby the behavioural patterns of young people towards law and order can develop and mature through positive interventions and interaction with the project.

The primary project target group, which forms the majority of project participants, are young people who have entered the Garda juvenile diversion programme and are considered at risk of remaining within the justice system.

The secondary project target group are young people who, although they have not been officially cautioned, have come to the attention of the gardaí, the community or local agencies as a result of their behaviour and are considered at risk of entering the justice system at a future date.

My Department commissioned a study by TCD, The Impact and Effectiveness of the Garda Special Projects, Bowden and Higgins — May 2000. The study found that 83% of those participants surveyed reported that they had learned and 62.7% reported a personal change from their participation in the projects. The study commented that "The positive impact that the projects have made overall does, of course, justify their retention provided that there is a shift to a more strategic approach."

Following the recommendation of the report to provide a more strategic framework, my Department commissioned the centre for social and educational research at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Rathmines, to prepare comprehensive guidelines for the establishment, operation, management and administration of the projects. The guidelines were launched in May 2003 and are now fully operational.

My Department also commissioned DIT to conduct an examination of risk factors with regard to the participants in the projects. The risk profile developed focuses on various aspects of the young people's lives, including socio-economic factors, young people's general life styles, young people's perception of education and their levels of educational attainment, the nature of young people's relationships with family and friends and history of offending.

My Department is planning to commission a further study or survey of participants in Garda youth diversion projects in the near future. The purpose of the survey will be to ascertain the progression of participants in terms of recidivism and full time education.

The budgetary allocation of funding for the 64 Garda youth diversion projects, together with the seven local drug task force projects, for 2005 is €5.471 million. As part of my ongoing commitment to law enforcement and crime prevention, I have recently announced a new 14-point nationwide policing programme. I have secured an increase in funding of €146 million for the Garda Síochána in 2006. Some €1.2 million of this additional funding is being allocated to Garda youth diversion schemes, bringing the total available to €6.6 million. I have asked the Commissioner to bring forward proposals for further community based initiatives in this area in the light of the additional funding. It is my intention to further extend these schemes across the country over the next two years. The target is to have established 100 schemes by the end of 2007.