Michael D. Higgins
Question:84 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the apparent increasing levels of juvenile crime and anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7224/99]
Written Answers. - Juvenile Crime.
During 1997, the latest year for which statistics are readily available, 15,075 referrals were made to the National Juvenile Office which represents an increase of 5.5 per cent – 790 referrals – on the previous year. It would be unsafe to assume, however, that an increase in the number of referrals is matched by a corresponding increase in the amount of crime committed by juveniles.
It must be borne in mind that there was an increase in the overall detection rate for indictable crime in 1997 and it is not surprising against that background that there would be an increase in the number of referrals to the juvenile diversion scheme. This is not to suggest that there are grounds for complacency in regard to the incidence of juvenile crime but simply that statistics for referrals need to be treated with caution as indicators of the changing level of juvenile crime.
The increase in detections may be attributed to the Government policy of greater enforcement of legislation such as that relating to public order offences and alcohol related offences. If one looks at the offence of intoxication in public, for example, the number of referrals in 1997 increased by 491 from the previous year. It must also be remembered that greater enforcement of this type of legislation will show a greater detection rate in relation to young people compared to adults as offences such as public order and drink related offences are primarily committed by young people and in some cases can only be committed by young people – underage drinking, for example.
I would like to take this opportunity to brief the House on other initiatives in the area of juvenile crime.
The Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, announced on 22 July last year that the Government had decided to establish an expert working group to inquire into the increasing number of children coming before the children's court.
The group is examining: intervention and prevention strategies as a means of keeping children out of the courts; why there appears to be an increase in the numbers of children coming before the courts; the behavioural patterns of children coming before the courts in the lead up to a court appearance; the present non-custodial options open to the courts when dealing with children; best practice models in existence in this country and in a number of other countries where community sanctions are in place.
The group also commissioned research into the numbers and profile of juveniles appearing before the Children's Court. The Children Bill, 1996, which deals primarily with juvenile justice matters has been thoroughly re-examined and work is at an advanced stage on the preparation of amendments which will reflect the outcome of that re-examination. Because of the large number of amendments, consideration will have to be given as to whether it will be possible to progress the Bill by way of introducing a very large number of amendments or whether it will be necessary to introduce a new Bill.
It would be wrong, of course, to view the Children Bill in isolation from crime preventive measures provided for in the Child Care Act, 1991, and in the Department of Education and Science's schemes and plans for legislation aimed at tackling the problem of truancy.
My Department has also expanded the number of community-based youth diversion projects from 14 to 24. The projects are located in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Dundalk, Bray, Tralee and Sligo. They are targeted at specific large, high density urban areas where there is a combination of a large young population, high unemployment and a lack of basic amenities.
In addition, the probation and welfare service of my Department is involved in, and runs, a number of community-based projects which cater for young offenders at risk of continuing in crime. These projects include workshops and day centres where offenders are provided with training in a number of skills. The purpose is to address offending behaviour, reduce recidivism and to assist such persons in gaining employment. A more recent development in the area of alternatives to imprisonment is intensive probation supervision. This is a special community based programme for serious or persistent offenders requiring a more intensive form of supervision. Participants on supervision orders from the courts may be referred to this scheme in place of a substantial custodial sentence, two years or more.
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.
Deputies will appreciate that projects directed at young people at risk, which come under the aegis of agencies for which I have responsibility, are but a part of the Government's overall programme to tackle social exclusion and drugs. The Taoiseach announced in January last year that the Government has decided on a programme for young people at risk. The centrepiece of the programme is a young people's facilities and services fund of £30 million to be provided over the next three years to support a variety of capital and non-capital projects in disadvantaged areas. At least £20 million will be targeted at those areas particularly affected by the heroin problem. The new fund is in addition to the £10 million provided in the current year to implement the plans of the local drugs task forces, and the £13 million provided for youth services. The allocations from the fund will be made by the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, chaired by the Taoiseach.