Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a dedicated section exists in his Department to cater for children deemed to be at risk due to non-attendance at school, being under the undesirable influence of non-family persons, being involved in petty crime, and refusing to accept parental control as in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; the action proposed or intended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10002/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Offending behaviour by children including petty crime is a serious matter and improving the State's response to this problem is a priority within my Department. I have recently established a dedicated section to address issues of youth offending.

In October 2004, an internal project team was established within my Department to examine the scope for rationalising and restructuring the delivery of the State's services in the area of youth justice in accordance with the legislative basis provided for in the Children Act 2001. Publication of the report on the youth justice review was approved by Government in December 2005 and the Government agreed to the implementation of the report's recommendations in addition to a number of other youth justice reforms.

Among the reforms agreed was the establishment of a youth justice service on a non-statutory basis as an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The service will focus on developing a national youth justice strategy, achieving the full implementation of the Children Act 2001, assuming responsibility for children's detention and improving the delivery of services for young offenders. The Government also agreed to the drafting of legislative amendments to provide for the introduction of anti-social behaviour orders, ASBOs, for those aged under 18 years to address anti-social behaviour by children. Under these provisions, a child will first be dealt with under the Garda diversion programme and parents will be involved from an early stage.

The Garda juvenile diversion programme was introduced to provide an opportunity to divert juvenile offenders from criminal activity. It operates under the supervision and direction of the Garda national juvenile office, Harcourt Square, and is implemented throughout all Garda divisions by 94 specially trained gardaí known as juvenile liaison officers, JLOs. The Children Act 2001 places the Garda juvenile diversion programme on a statutory basis and incorporates into it as new features restorative cautioning and conferencing. In addition, under the Act, the age limit for inclusion in the programme was increased from 17 to 18 years of age. The programme is used to its greatest extent in relation to minor offences and-or for those with no or only one or two experiences of offending.

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 the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and administered by the community relations section of the Garda Síochána. A budget of €6.6 million has been provided for the Garda youth diversion projects and local drugs task force projects in 2006. I am committed to the continuing development and the expansion of Garda youth diversion projects. It is my intention to ensure that 100 schemes will be established nationwide before the end of 2007.

While matters relating to school attendance and child care and protection issues are the responsibility of the Ministers for Education and Science and Health and Children respectively, the report on the youth justice review recognised that cross-departmental co-operation is essential to meet the needs of at risk children. The youth justice service is developing links with other relevant Departments and agencies and will operate within the strategic environment of the office of the Minister for children under the Minister of State with special responsibility for children to ensure that a joined-up approach to service delivery is achieved. I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in respect of the named persons and I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.