Thomas P. Broughan
Question:37 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his response to the key recommendations of the report of the National Crime Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3049/99]
Written Answers. - National Crime Forum.
The National Crime Forum represented, in my opinion, a unique consultation process for the Government, the Department and the criminal justice system. The report touches on many issues and makes recommendations on the establishment and composition of a crime council. In regard to that specific recommendation, I have already signalled my intention to establish a crime council and the forum's proposals for the framework for a council are under urgent consideration in my Department with a view to its establishment at an early date.
The forum's views provide a valuable base to inform policy in the general criminal justice area and indeed takes forward some of the sentiments expressed in the Department's "Tackling Crime" discussion paper. While these views are currently being examined by my Department, there are a few specific aspects I would like to mention at this stage. The forum's views as regards the need for research to assist policy formulation are something I fully subscribe to. As recently as 1997, no funding was provided for this basic need in the then Department of Justice. Since taking up office, I am pleased to say that no less than 15 projects are under way and that a sum of £400,000 has been allocated to the research budget for the current year.
The report of the forum also highlighted the problems faced by victims of crime. We must never forget that the victim is at the heart of the crime. I am pleased that my Department is making over £650,000 available to the Association for Victim Support to continue its good work in 1999.
I would like to inform the House of a number of developments which have happened since the report was published.
The report stresses the need to prevent young people from getting caught up in the cycle of crime. This year will see a major expansion in the network of Garda special projects funded by my Department, which will increase the number of these projects from 14 to 24. These innovative projects are becomingly increasingly important in the context of developments in juvenile justice which involve a partnership approach between State agencies, the voluntary sector and the community to tackle the multiple problems faced by young people deemed at risk of getting in trouble with the law.
I have also recently made arrangements to introduce a voluntary, national age card scheme which will greatly strengthen the existing measures aimed at curbing the sale of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age. When the regulations come into operation, any person who has attained 18 years of age will be entitled to apply for an age card at his or her local Garda station. The introduction of a national age card will make a significant contribution to the continuing fight against underage drinking.
A sum of £1 million is also being provided to the Probation and Welfare Service to develop intensive probation programmes for young adults in the 15-18 age group. These schemes aim to reduce reoffending in the context of community based sanctions imposed by the courts. This project, which will be managed by an interdepartmental group, is a practical example of two key themes of the report – the need for an integrated approach to crime prevention, and the desirability of creating a range of non-custodial sentencing options for young offenders.
The Deputy will, of course, be aware that progress is well under way in the setting up of the independent courts service, which is welcomed in the report.
I also recently announced the composition of the drug courts planning committee. It will be charged with putting in place the arrangements necessary for convening a pilot drug courts project in the District Court. This marks a major policy initiative in the criminal justice system and again it recognises the need for the courts to have a wide range of options for dealing with certain categories of persons entering the criminal justice system.
I have also recently announced an investment of £6 million in a computer-based information programme which, for the first time ever, will provide accessible information about the people who pass through our prisons and will eventually expand the potential research base in the prison system. I had called for such information to be made readily available for many years when I was in Opposition and I am pleased now to be delivering on this important commitment which also comes at a time of radical change for the prison system – the operation and administration of which will shortly be taken over by a Prisons Authority. The programme has three objectives: (i) to address the lack of accessible information about prisoners; (ii) to provide management with the information and tools to manage human and financial resources; and (iii) to enable the automation of many existing functions. These initiatives will contribute to the better management of the prison system which I know the report of the crime forum would endorse.