Written Answers Nos. 192-194
192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps that have been taken or are likely to be taken to discourage by way of rehabilitation, training or education young offenders particularly first time offenders from a life of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46795/12]
View answerWhere a young person under the age of 18 comes into conflict with the law the principles of the Children Act, 2001 apply. It requires the various authorities within the youth justice system to apply incrementally a series of measures, ranging from diversion to community sanctions, and with detention as a last resort.
The first measure is the Garda Diversion Programme. The objective of the Programme is, unless the interests of society otherwise require, to divert any child who accepts responsibility for his or her criminal behaviour from committing further offences. The Programme provides for the informal caution (without supervision) and the formal (supervised) caution by a Garda, including possible involvement with a Garda Youth Diversion Project (GYDP). There are 100 GYDPs throughout the country and these are designed to engage with young people who have been involved or are identified as being at risk of involvement in criminal or anti-social behaviour. The GYDPs aim to bring about the conditions whereby the behavioural patterns of young people towards law and order, can develop and mature through positive interventions and interaction with the project. The GYDPs also provide a range of education and training programmes e.g. academic support, IT, employment preparation and specific job training. The Garda Programme of Restorative Justice also works within the Diversion Programme and involves a process whereby the victim of the offence is given the opportunity to meet or have views presented to the offender.
Where a young offender comes before the Courts a number of supervised community sanctions may be considered. Theses sanctions are provided by Young Persons Probation (YPP) a specialised Division of the Probation Service via a number of community based organisations with dedicated resources to work with these young people. YPPs aim to:
- To help prevent young offenders re-offending.
- To assist in reintegration into community and to enhance the support network around each young person in their community.
- To improve education attainment and progression to training or employment.
FÁS and local VECs work in conjunction with some of the community based projects to offer training and education and counselling and other support services are also offered.
Finally, as a last resort, detention may be used. On admission to the Children Detention Schools, children are assessed by residential care staff to determine their particular areas of risk and need (e.g. anti-social attitudes, substance use, negative peers). Young people also attend offending programmes run by staff which target behaviour. For example, the Reasoning and Rehabilitation (R&R) Programme teaches cognitive skills to help young people react more appropriately to situations that might trigger anti-social or criminal behaviour.
The Children Detention Schools also prioritise education. Young people are required to attend school on site and all educational services are provided by County Dublin Vocational Education Committee. Individual Educational Plans are prepared for each child in detention on arrival and many of the children go on to complete State examinations on the Oberstown campus.
The Irish Prison Service which currently caters for young offenders aged 17 or over in St Patrick's Institution provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes are available in all prisons and all prisoners are eligible to use the services. On committal, all prisoners are interviewed by the Governor and are informed of the services available in the prison. At this point prisoners may be referred to services or they can self refer at a later date. Where Governors consider, on the information available, that a prisoner needs a particular intervention they will initiate a referral.
The development of prisoner programmes forms a central part of the new Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015. There is a clear commitment in the Strategy to enhance sentence planning including Integrated Sentence Management and the delivery of prison based rehabilitative programmes such as education, work training and resettlement programmes.
193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the need to ensure an adequate spread of Garda strength throughout urban and rural areas with a view to creating a police visibility that will act as a deterrent to all forms of crime including organised crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46796/12]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.
There are many reforms being introduced in the Garda Síochána including a new Garda roster which ensures that the maximum number of Gardai are on duty when the demands on them are the highest. The Commissioner also introduced Operation Fiacla which targets those engaged in criminal activity such as burglaries in communities across the country. To date 2,493 persons have been arrested and 1,404 persons have been charged as part of Operation Fiacla, reflecting the very substantial efforts being made to tackle this particular problem by the Gardaí.
The Garda Commissioner has reiterated the commitment of An Garda Síochána to continue to provide a professional and effective policing service within the prevailing economic conditions. An Garda Síochána can never over-emphasise the importance of partnership with local communities in preventing and detecting crime and maintaining a safe environment for everyone. The pledge of An Garda Síochána is to continue to invest time and energy in those partnerships and relationships to the benefit of all.
194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if in the context of deployment of Garda strength throughout the country, he will ensure that the highest possible profile is maintained throughout and that in particular the activities of criminal gangs are monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46797/12]
View answer200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action he will take in the forthcoming year to prevent the setting up of criminal gangs whether by legislation or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46803/12]
View answer201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans in the coming year to tackle the issue of gun crime, whether by legislation or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46804/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 200 and 201 together.
I am in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner about all aspects of serious crime and the Gardaí will continue to bear down heavily on the activities of those involved in gang and gun crime. Specifically, the Garda Síochána Policing Plan sets out key actions aimed at tackling organised crime with a continued focus on drug trafficking, identifying and targeting the proceeds of crime, and challenging organised crime gangs through pro-active, intelligence based operations. The plan also contains key actions to support community safety through targeted high visibility patrols and the application of available technology. The determination with which the Gardaí are putting this Plan into effect is clear from the extent of the Garda operations launched against gangs as well as the many drug seizures that have taken place in recent months and weeks.
Organised crime needs to be combatted by disrupting and prosecuting those involved in its operations, and especially the drugs trade which is at the heart of much of its profits. Substantial efforts by An Garda Síochána and Customs are therefore devoted to damaging this business, with drugs seizures estimated at €59.3m for the first six months of the year. I should add that this figure does not include a number of substantial seizures made towards the end of that period which remain under analysis, including the largest ever inland seizure of cocaine made in this jurisdiction.
As Minister, I will continue, with the full support of the Government, to do everything in my power to assist the Gardaí in their work. There is already very strong anti-gangland legislation in place and serious penalties for firearms offences. Members of An Garda Síochána are continuing to utilise all available legislation and I have made it clear to the Garda Commissioner that if he feels there are other measures which might be taken in this area I will look at that very positively. But it is misleading to suggest that there is some simple legislative solution which will prevent dangerous criminals from trying to kill each other. If that were the case it would have been enacted years ago.
Despite the difficulties which are encountered in investigating gangland killings, I understand that the Gardaí have been able to bring people before the courts, particularly in relation to a number of high profile killings in the past couple of years, even though it will be some time before those cases are disposed of. Arrests have also been made in relation to a number of the recent shootings and a person charged in connection with one of the killings. The Garda Commissioner has my full support in steps he is taking to tackle this type of criminality and to bring organised criminals to justice.
