David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the advice he has received or requested from the Children Acts Advisory Board since its establishment in July 2007; the role he has in the development and progression of the National Youth Justice Strategy 2008 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27143/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The functions of the Children Acts Advisory Board (CAAB), which was established by the Minister for Health and Children, are set out in Section 227(1) of the Children Act 2001, as amended by the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2007. The Board may, at the request of the Minister for Health and Children or the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform, advise on policy issues relating to the co-ordinated delivery of services under the Children Act 2001 and the Child Care Act 1991, as amended, including residential accommodation and support services to children at risk.

Within the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform, services under the Children Act are dealt with by the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS), an executive office, which is responsible for leading and driving reform of the youth justice system. While the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform has neither received nor requested specific advice from the CAAB, I can say that the IYJS operates in strategic partnership with all of the relevant stakeholders including the criminal justice agencies and services in the health, education and welfare systems and with the community and voluntary sectors to ensure a co-ordinated approach in meeting the needs of children who come into conflict with the law. The Children Acts Advisory Board is also one of the key stakeholders involved and works in close co-operation with the IYJS to bring about greater inter-agency co-operation in the delivery of services to children.

The justice sector is represented on the CAAB by three nominees of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform; the National Director of the IYJS, the Director of the Probation Service and an Inspector from the Garda National Juvenile Office. In addition, IYJS officials are represented on a number of CAAB inter-agency committees and working groups, including those on research and therapeutic intervention in residential centres. The IYJS and the other key bodies involved in the youth justice sector participate and present information in the various seminars and other events held throughout the country by the CAAB. The CAAB is also represented on the National Youth Justice Oversight Group which is monitoring the implementation of the National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-2010, to which it contributed.

In so far as to the role of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to the National Youth Justice Strategy, the executive agency responsible for the strategy within his Department, the Irish Youth Justice Service, developed the strategy in partnership with Government Departments and Agencies who have a role to play in delivering services to, or an interest in, children who are in conflict with the law, e.g. the Department of Education and Science, the Health Service Executive, children's charities, the Ombudsman for Children.

The Strategy of course acknowledges that the youth justice system is but one component in a broader community-based approach for preventing youth offending that takes account of the wider family and societal issues which need to be addressed by a number of agencies. Both the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and myself are confident that the National Youth Justice Strategy will make a difference in helping to reduce offending and lead to better outcomes for all concerned.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has delegated responsibility for youth justice matters under the Children Act to me, as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.