Vol. 527 No. 5
205 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether children under 14 should be walking the streets alone or in groups after 9 p.m.; if he has any plans to introduce legislation to help deter such children from engaging in anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29108/00]
While young children who are regularly on the streets late at night are a cause of concern, there are also perfectly legitimate reasons why other young people may be out of doors on an occasional basis. The legislative approach I have taken is, therefore, focused on the problem individuals.
The Children Bill, 1999, which is at present awaiting Committee Stage before the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, provides a statutory basis for the imposition of curfews on young offenders. Section 133 of the Bill gives the courts power to order that a child whom it has found guilty of an offence be at a particular residence at any times between 7.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. the following morning or that a child stay away from any specified premises, place or locality during specified days or between specified times. The Garda can call at the residence at which the child must be for the purpose of establishing that the child is present there at the relevant time.
The Bill also provides for the possibility of curfews as a condition of the grant of temporary leave from children detention schools. In addition, curfews could form part of the action plan which may be formulated under the restorative conferencing provisions of the Bill.
