Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons given anti-social behaviour warnings since the new system came into operation on 1 January 2007; the number of anti-social behaviour orders sought in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27378/07]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of anti-social behaviour orders that have been issued by the Courts to adults and children to date; the number of behaviour orders that have been issued by An Garda Síochána to date; the number of good behaviour contracts that have been issued and renewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27332/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 82 together.

Part 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which provides for civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by adults, was commenced on 1 January, 2007. Part 13 of the Act relating to anti-social behaviour by children was commenced on 1 March, 2007. These provisions set out an incremental procedure for addressing anti-social behaviour by adults and children. With regard to children, these range from a warning from a member of An Garda Síochána, to a good behaviour contract involving the child and his or her parents or guardian, to referral to the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme and to the making of a behaviour order by the Children's Court.

In setting up this regime, the intention was that these warnings or good behaviour contracts would themselves address the problem behaviour. It is only if they fail that a civil order (in the case of an adult) or a behaviour order (in the case of a child) would be applied for by An Garda Síochána.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that up to 30 September, 2007, 264 behaviour warnings have been issued to adults, 80 behaviour warnings to children and two good behaviour contracts to children.