Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Juvenile Offenders.

Mr. Broughan:

I thank the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform for coming in to the House to reply to this short debate on what is a horrendous problem. As both he and the Garda Síochána are well aware, large areas of the northside, westside and southside of the city continue to be terrorised by joyriders with six cars or more involved on occasion. Day and night for the past three months there has been mayhem, particularly on the northside. Children have been knocked down and there is a fear that the long list of deaths will be added to. About two and a half months ago as the House reassembled there was the tragic slaughter of a leading northside community activist and leader, Mr. Richie Green, who served the people of Donnycarney, Coolock and Artane for many years on many projects, especially unemployment action groups. Both he and his young daughter were slaughtered by joyriders early one morning in the city.

Through the good offices of the assistant commissioner, Mr. McHugh, my local superintendant, Mr. Flynn, and inspector Seamus Kane, an anti-joyriding task force has been established in the past eight or nine months. It drew up an action programme at its most recent meeting. What we are looking for is a dedicated youth centre in Priorswood parish, the provision of the necessary additional funds for the Darndale-Belcamp village centre to include youth facilities as well as the necessary support for youth programmes in Priorswood, Darndale, Belcamp, Bonnybrook and Kilbarrack parishes covering such matters as genuine car sport and car maintenance for the tiny minority who have been drawn into this criminal activity. Community activists, public representatives and the Garda Síochána are also seeking resources for additional education services, particularly at primary level. The total amount required is of the order of £3.5 million. I urge the Minister to ask the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, to provide this sum for the parishes concerned in the budget to be announced on 1 December.

I do not want to raise the death of a child or other person in the areas mentioned on the Order of Business in the next few weeks. To this end there is a need for a dedicated anti-joyriding Garda unit which would operate between Tallaght and north Coolock. There is also a need for legislation. I have produced the heads of a car theft (anti-joyriding) Bill. In opposition the Minister had a good reputation for introducing Bills in the House. I have brought forward a few of my own. If the Minister was prepared to make Government time available I would be prepared to bring forward my Bill to criminalise the activities of unscrupulous dealers who sell so-called company cars to young boys and girls.

There is a need to provide more places for the young criminals concerned in their mid to late teens, one of whom caused mayhem in my area for about six weeks, upsetting thousands of people. The Children Bill has been brought forward at long last. It was needed a year ago.

I invite the Minister to visit us in my own ward; I am a city councillor in the Donaghmede area, or to invite the joyriding task force to meet him so that a programme of measures can be put in place to try to end this horrendous problem once and for all. The last time we had a meeting, one of the people in the room was Richard Greene, who along with his beautiful young daughter was slaughtered recently by these criminals. That man gave great service to the north side of Dublin. This is an outrageous situation and we must bring it to an end. It is the Minister's responsibility and I urge him to do that in the coming months.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The level of resources the Government has made available to youth facilities and services in Dublin north east is clear proof of its determination to tackle the root causes of social deprivation and youth offending in the area. As the House will appreciate, these funds are channelled through a number of Government Departments, including my own. I will therefore first describe the initiatives undertaken by my colleagues, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, and the Minister for Education and Science, before outlining resources and activities in my own area of responsibility.

As the House will be aware, in the period 1999 to 2001 the Exchequer will contribute £34.8 mill ion towards the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund set up in 1998 by the Government. In addition, the corporate sector will make a significant contribution to the fund. This fund develops youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities and services in disadvantaged areas. In April 1999, the Government allocated more than £25 million of the total amount to support 295 facilities and services projects in 13 local drugs task force areas. More than 60 youth workers, Outreach and sport workers are employed providing a wide variety of developmental activities and educational programmes for young people at risk in these task areas.

In the Dublin north east task force area, where 27 projects are under way, funding amounting to £1,735,000 has been approved in principle for a range of facilities, services and grants. More than £800,000 has been earmarked for the construction and renovation of local youth and community facilities. Ten youth workers will be employed on seven service projects. Just over £100,000 has been set aside to support locally-based sport and youth groups with equipment and basic programme costs to provide activities and programmes for the target group of persons at risk. Grants of more than £40,000 have been approved towards the cost of equipment for local youth clubs, sports clubs and women's groups.

The Department of Education and Science provides further resources to youth services in the north east Dublin area. The Department provides financial assistance through the City of Dublin Youth Service Board for projects such as Ballymun Youth Action, Ballymun Youth Provision, Bonnybrook Youth Project, Donnycarney Youth Project and the Priorswood Youth Service. In addition, the City of Dublin Youth Service Board receives an annual grant of £647,444 to operate a local youth grant scheme in their region and a further £26,555 per annum towards the costs of Foroige's north Dublin youth development officer.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda are represented at the monthly meetings of the local task force on joyriding by an inspector and a sergeant. The community police sergeant is in continuous contact with local residents groups in the areas, and as a result of consultations with Dublin Corporation, plinth walls and barriers have been erected in Moatview Court to prevent stolen cars being driven into the estate.

A policing strategy is in place from both the prevention and enforcement aspects, and this has yielded results. Operation Steering Wheel has been devised and put in place to counter these incidents and involves targeted patrolling by a dedicated unit in the affected areas. These issues are under constant review by local Garda management. Responses and strategies will continue to be put in place, as appropriate.

It is also relevant to point out that since coming into office, I have given a high priority to the diversion of young people who are at risk of becoming involved in crimes such as joyriding. In that time, I have increased the number of Garda special projects from 12 to 29 and there are a number of proposals for other projects before my Department. Any proposals arising from the Anti-Joyriding Task Force will be considered. The projects are tangible crime prevention measures and are run in conjunction with youth organisations. One such project is operating in the Dublin 17 area. Gardaí are also operating such initiatives as the Garda schools programme and the juvenile diversion programme.

I am fully aware of the damage, both mental and physical, that joyriding inflicts on community life. I have complete confidence, however, in the capacity of the Garda Síochána to combat the problem and to discharge its role in maintaining law and order. I am aware that other areas of the city have also been affected recently, and my Department and the Garda will continue to monitor the situation.

With regard to the Bill Deputy Broughan is in the course of drafting, obviously I cannot give him any commitment at this point, not having seen the legislation, but if he produces the Bill I will examine it and give it careful consideration. Deputy Broughan is also correct in stating that the Children Bill is now published and it should come before the Houses of the Oireachtas in the not too distant future. The Bill is radically different from what the previous Government had proposed. A new Bill was necessary. I look forward to its passage through the Houses. It will have a major effect on juvenile justice. It will be the most radical departure in this area since the foundation of the State.

With regard to the possibility of the Garda Commissioner setting up a special unit, I will raise that matter with him for his comments.