Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the implementation of anti-social behaviour orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30862/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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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, to the making of a behaviour order by the Children's Court.

In setting up the regime, the intention was that these warnings or good behaviour contracts would themselves address the problem behaviour. It is only if they fail that an ASBO will be applied. In any case, it inevitably takes time to reach the stage where an ASBO itself might be sought. Where these do not succeed in altering a person's behaviour, they will culminate in ASBOs being sought by the Garda authorities from the courts.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that up to 31 October, 2007 323 behaviour warnings to adults and 95 behaviour warnings to children were issued.