Peter Burke
Question:107. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Justice the measures that are in place to tackle underage drinking in towns and cities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16749/22]
View answerWednesday, 30 March 2022
Questions (107)
Written answers
I have requested information from An Garda Síochána in order to respond to the Deputy's query, however, the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is received from the Garda Authorities.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 30 March 2022 where you asked: ‘The measures that are in place to tackle underage drinking in towns and cities.’
As you will recall, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.
As you will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no direct role in operational Garda matters.
The Garda Authorities have informed me that there are a number of measures in place to tackle underage drinking in towns and cities. These include the use of legislative powers, crime prevention measures, education and the Garda Youth Diversion Programme .
Legislation provides An Garda Síochána with powers to address public order and anti-social behaviour related to the misuse of alcohol by persons under the age of 18 years, and includes:
- Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994
- Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003
- Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003
- Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008
- Children Act 2001
Additionally, Part 13 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 introduced provisions within the criminal law for dealing with anti-social behaviour by children who are between 12-18 years of age and are designed to allow the Gardaí to deal effectively with anti-social behaviour while keeping the child out of the criminal justice system.
These powers allow the Gardaí to deal with anti-social behaviour by issuing an anti-social behaviour warning to children; convening meetings to discuss a child’s anti-social behaviour; requesting a child and his/her parents or guardian to enter into a Good Behaviour Contract; and applying to the courts for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) in respect of a child.
Other preventative measures include the use of CCTV, which is designed to help prevent and detect crime and anti-social behaviour; and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED).
CPTED is a multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behaviour through environmental design in order to deter criminal activity; and is an approach to problem solving that asks what it is about this location that places people at risk, or that results in opportunities for crime.
I am advised that CPTED training has been rolled out to Crime Prevention Officers throughout the country. Their liaison with stakeholders in towns and cities throughout the country has led to a reduction in incidents of anti-social behaviour through joint approach interventions involving environmental landscape changes.
The Garda Schools Programme is a partnership programme between An Garda Síochána and the Department of Education is an important tool for engagement between An Garda Síochána and children/young people in the area of crime prevention and personal safety which is delivered by trained Gardaí across the country.
In 2021, as a result of extensive work developed by the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau working in partnership with the Department of Education and Webwise, the new Garda Schools Programme was developed. The new content of the Programme provides lessons on several topics specifically targeted towards reducing anti-social behaviour and substance abuse.
The Garda Youth Diversion Bureau is responsible for the administration of the Diversion Programme under Part 4 of the Children Act 2001 and the Bureau determines the suitability of a child to be referred for admission to the Programme.
Referrals relating to underage drinking are categorised under the offence types – Public Order Offences and Liquor Licensing. All incidents involving a child under 18 years must be reported to the Garda Youth Diversion Bureau.
You may wish to be aware that official referral figures for drunkenness offences for 2020 were 581, a decrease from 773 in 2019 and that referrals under the category Liquor Licensing for 2020 were 73, a decrease from 123 in 2019. Therefore it is considered that the overall referral trend for children under 18 years in these categories is downwards.
In addition to the above, you may also wish to be aware that Operation Irene commences in the Dublin Metropolitan Region on 1 June, 2022 and continues until 31 August, 2022. The aim of this operation is to combat under-age alcohol consumption and the consumption of alcohol in public places in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, in a targeted operation through the enforcement of legislation regulating the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol and other associated legislation.
I hope that this information is of assistance.