Thomas Gould
Question:661. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the Adult Diversion Programme; the number who have availed of it in 2022; and the plans to improve the programme. [39215/22]
View answerThursday, 14 July 2022
Questions (661)
Written answers
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy, which regrettably was not available in the timeframe available. I will write to the Deputy when this information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 661 of 14 July 2022 where you asked: ‘if she will provide an update on the Adult Diversion Programme; the number who have availed of it in 2022; and the plans to improve the programme.’
As you will recall, I sought the information you requested and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.
As you will be aware, the Adult Caution Scheme is a non-statutory scheme agreed between, and administered by, An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Both the Garda Commissioner and the Director of Public Prosecutions are independent in their functions and I, as Minister, have no role in the setting of criteria used when administering the Scheme.
I am advised, however, that the Garda Authorities have published the policy documentation relating to the Scheme at the following link on the Garda website:
https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/policy-documents/adult-cautioning-scheme-policy-document-feb-21-.pdf
As you will appreciate, as Minister, I have no role in the functions, operations, governance or oversight of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and am unable to provide any information related to the work of the Director, including plans for the Scheme.
To be of assistance, I have contacted the Garda authorities and been advised that, to date in 2022, there were 3,400 individuals for whom the offender status was updated on PULSE to reflect that they were issued with an Adult Caution. Of these, 1,777 individuals were issued with Adult Cautions in relation to offences that were reported in 2022, the balance of 1,623 relate to offences reported prior to 1 January 2022.
In relation to the above figures, ‘2022’ refers to the period 1 January 2022 to 12 July 2022, inclusive. ‘Individuals’ refers to distinct PULSE Person ID numbers.
The Deputy will appreciate that data is operational and subject to change.