Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the community courts initiative. [37248/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department led a Working Group of Justice Sector officials to consider options for moving forward on the proposal to establish a Community Court. Building on the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, the Working Group considered proposals to enhance the approach to tackling low level offenders and effectively addressing their offending behaviour through a Community Justice Intervention type programme. This would be a diversion from the courts system in a way that has the potential to respond more effectively to one-off and repeat, low level offending with the emphasis on speedy processing aimed at reducing the risk of re-offending and would also offer quick referral to the necessary services.

My Department wishes to build on this work and continues to examine a number of possibilities, including the creation of a conditional cautioning system of which there are a number of models, which continue to remain under careful consideration.