Dan Neville
Question:336 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the annual cost of implementing all stages of the Children Bill, 1999, when enacted. [26703/99]
Written Answers. - Children Bill.
The main purpose of the Children Bill, 1999, is to provide a statutory framework to underpin the further development of the juvenile justice system over the coming years. Successful implementation will entail the proper targeting of resources over time into areas where they will be most effective. It is also the case that the application of additional funding to some areas of the system may result in savings elsewhere.
In that context, the estimated annual costs that have been identified for my Department to fully implement the legislation will amount to somewhere in the region of £9.85 million after a number of years. In addition, there will be non-recurring capital costs.
The Bill also has spending implications for the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science.