Written answers

Tuesday, 20 May 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Juvenile Offenders

9:00 pm

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of incidents of juvenile crime recorded in each division since 2004 to date in 2008; the number of cases dealt with by the juvenile diversion programme in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19821/08]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The compilation and publication of crime statistics is now the responsibility of the Central Statistics Office (CSO). This decision was taken following the submission of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 consequently makes provision for this, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics related to juvenile crime directly to the Deputy. Statistics in regard to the number of children referred to the Garda Diversion Programme have been provided by the Garda Commissioner and are as follows in each year since 2004: 2004 — 17,656; 2005 — 17,567; 2006 — 20,016; 2007 — 21,941; 2008 to date — no figures available for this period.

Diversion of young people from crime and the criminal justice system is one of the key responsibilities of my Department in accordance with the provisions of the Children Act 2001, as amended. The causes of delinquent, anti-social, and criminal behaviour are often complex and may cover a range of issues which are dealt with by a number of Government Departments. In my own Department, for example, the Government has put in place a comprehensive programme to implement youth justice reforms including the establishment of the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS). In March of this year, the National Youth Justice Strategy was published.

In developing the strategy the IYJS and other agencies agreed a number of goals and actions needed to achieve these goals over the next three years. It provides for a coordinated approach across agencies. The success of the strategy is dependent on the commitment and work of not only the IYJS, but also of other agencies working together in order to deliver services effectively to young people in trouble with the law. The focus is on diverting children from crime and the criminal justice system, promoting restorative justice, enforcing community sanctions, facilitating rehabilitation and, as a last resort, providing for detention.

The Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme which the Deputy refers to is an initiative first introduced in 1963 to provide an opportunity to divert juvenile offenders from criminal activity. It has proven to be highly successful in diverting young persons away from crime by offering guidance and support to juveniles and their families. It also enables referral to the Garda Youth Diversion Projects which are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives operating separately from the Programme and which aim to divert young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour. There are currently 100 of these type of projects operating throughout the country and this number will be extended to 168 in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government.

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