Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made to date with regard to implementation of those sections of the programme for Government under the headings community payback, parental responsibility, and anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31140/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983 provides that a Court may make a Community Service Order as an alternative to a sentence of imprisonment or detention in respect of any individual over the age of 16 years who has been convicted of a criminal offence and who consents to the Order being made.

The Probation Service has responsibility for the supervision and management of Community Service Orders. A Community Service Order requires an offender to perform unpaid work for between 40 and 240 hours, usually to be completed within 12 months. The aim of a Community Service Order is to rehabilitate the offender and make meaningful reparation to the community for his or her crime.

A Community Pay Back Scheme which is provided for in the Programme for Government will build on the Community Service Scheme which is currently the subject of a Value for Money and Policy Review by an independent evaluator. The Review, which will be published shortly, will influence how best to progress this aspect of the Programme for Government.

The Children Act 2001, as amended, provides for a number of measures in relation to parental responsibility in respect of children involved in anti-social behaviour and children found guilty of offences. These include parental supervision and compensation orders. The imposition of any particular sanction provided for by the Act on parents or guardians of an offending child is a matter for the courts. The National Youth Justice Strategy 2008 - 2010 provides for the monitoring of the use of the anti-social behaviour measures in the Act. This is being progressed during the term of the Strategy in the context of the commitment in the Programme for Government.

Public order is one of my priorities for the Gardaí in 2009 and is one of the 6 strategic goals in the Garda Policing Plan 2009. The commitments relating to anti-social behaviour in the Programme for Government are being implemented in co-operation with other Departments and agencies as necessary, in the context of the resources available. Section 22 and Schedule 2 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 provide for increases in the level of fines under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. The fine for supplying alcohol to under 18's was increased from €1,500 to €5,000 by Section 17 and Schedule 1 of the 2008 Act. The Deputy will be aware, in particular, that the Gardaí launched a new National Model of Community Policing in January 2009. One of its strategic objectives is to use problem sharing initiatives in partnership with communities and local agencies to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.