Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of any new programmes the Irish Youth Justice Services are developing regarding restorative justice process under the terms of the Children Act 2001. [23967/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the Irish Youth Justice Service operates as a joint task force staffed by officials from my Department and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. I have retained responsibility for the diversion and community aspects of the work of the Irish Youth Justice Service, while my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has taken responsibility for the rest of IYJS, including the Children Detention Schools in Oberstown.

Essentially the delivery of restorative justice approaches are primarily a matter for IYJS strategic partners - An Garda Síochána and the Young Persons Division of the Probation Service. Restorative justice in the context of youth crime was introduced on a statutory basis for the first time in the Children Act 2001. There are two restorative justice initiatives provided for in the Act: a restorative conference or restorative caution included in the Garda Diversion Programme and a court-ordered restorative justice family conference delivered through the Probation Service.

An Garda Síochána are using Restorative Justice processes in the delivery of the Diversion Programme under Part IV of the Children Act, 2001. Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers are trained as Restorative Justice Practitioners and in Mediation Skills. More recently, Restorative Justice Philosophy has been introduced to five Garda Youth Diversion Projects which are managed by the Irish Youth Justice Service and operate on the basis of a strategic partnership between IYJS, An Garda Síochána and community based organisations. In October 2011, Garda Restorative Justice Trainers provided facilitator skills training in Restorative Justice to 10 Youth Justice Workers working in Garda Youth Diversion Projects and to 4 Community Gardaí who as part of their brief liaise with the projects on a regular basis. IYJS is monitoring the impact of these latest developments and the results will be taken on board in considering future developments in this area.