Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the manner the recently enacted gangland legislation will interact with the Irish Youth Justice Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5685/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) is an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with responsibility for leading and driving reform in the area of youth justice. Working closely with the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the IYJS is guided by the principles of the Children Act 2001. The IYJS funds organisations and projects providing services, including Garda and Probation Projects, to young people aged 12 to 17 years of age who find themselves in conflict with the law. These children may be involved with An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and the Courts Service. The IYJS is also responsible for the management and development of children detention facilities.

The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, the primary purpose of which is to introduce additional measures targeted at combating organised crime, will interact with the youth justice system in the same way as other criminal legislation. The priority, of course, is to intervene in offending behaviour by young people before it develops into the type of criminal behaviour at which the legislation in question is aimed.