Seamus Kirk
Question:799. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding restorative justice in relation to community offenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48097/12]
View answerTuesday, 6 November 2012
Questions (799)
Written answers
My Department, through the Probation Service, provides funding to three restorative justice initiatives based in Tallaght, Nenagh, and Limerick. Further information is set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 5 on 24 October last, which is as follows.
The Probation Service, in partnership with community based organisations, is engaged in the promotion, development and delivery of restorative justice initiatives. Extending the range of restorative justice schemes is a strategic priority for the Probation Service.
As regards adult offenders, the Probation Service has expanded the Restorative Justice Service based in Tallaght to the Criminal Courts of Justice and the Courts in South County Dublin, while the Nenagh Community Reparation project has been extended to the Courts in North Tipperary. Both services are operated through community based organisations. This has been done following a 12 month pilot which the Probation Service commenced in June, 2011 to test a range of restorative interventions based on the recommendations contained in the report of the National Commission on Restorative Justice. A restorative justice project focussing on young offenders has also been developed in partnership with the voluntary and community sector in Limerick.
For my part, my focus is to encourage the use of, to the greatest extent possible, the menu of non-custodial options available to the courts. I believe the restorative justice concept has a place in that range of available options and it is my intention to build on the progress being made.