Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of anti-social behaviour orders that have been issued since their introduction; the number of warnings that have been issued under the same legislation to juveniles in the County Limerick Garda district. [38309/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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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, which relates 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 and finally to the making of a behaviour order by the Children Court. With regard to adults, they include a warning and the making of a civil order by the court.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that up to 30 November, 2011, 3,033 behaviour warnings were issued to adults and 1,974 to children. Fifteen good behaviour contracts were made in respect of a child. In addition, four civil orders (in respect of adults) and three behaviour orders (in respect of children) have been issued by the courts.

Up to 31 October, 2011, 238 behaviour warnings were issued to children in the Limerick Garda Division. Four good behaviour contracts were made in respect of a child, and two behaviour orders have been issued by the courts.

In setting up the regime in the Act the intention was that the different interventions would address the problem behaviour. If they succeeded, there would be no need to apply to the courts for an order. It is only if they failed to lead to a behaviour adjustment by the person in question, that a court order would be applied for.