asked the Minister for Justice whether he is prepared to appoint a representative committee to inquire into the incidence and cause of juvenile delinquency, to make recommendations concerning the mode of trial of juvenile offenders, and the most suitable form of treatment for young persons convicted of delinquency.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Juvenile Delinquency.
The statistics published each year in the Statistical Abstract give very full information as to the incidence and causes of juvenile delinquency. The latest available information of this kind may also be found in the Report of the Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána for the year 1945, copies of which have been placed in the Oireachtas library. These statistics are based on investigation of thousands of individual cases. I think that the information already available in this way indicates with sufficient clearness the extent, nature, and causes of juvenile delinquency. Also, there is at present in existence a commission under the chairmanship of the Most Reverend Dr. McQuaid, Arch-bishop of Dublin, which has been asked, in its terms of reference, to advise, amongst other things, on measures for "promoting the religious, intellectual, and physical development of young persons". In the course of their consideration of that matter, the commission will necessarily cover to a considerable extent the same ground as would be covered by an inquiry such as the Deputy has in mind. In the circumstances, I think that it would be better, before setting up another inquiry, to wait for the report of the existing commission.