asked the Minister for Justice if, with reference to his statement to the Dublin Lions Club on 6th June, he will give further details of the training of the proposed special section of Gardaí to deal with juvenile delinquency; whether this special section will operate in a limited area of the country; and whether any further similar sections for other areas are at present envisaged.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Juvenile Delinquency.
65.
With a view to the better prevention of juvenile delinquency I have approved the introduction in the Dublin Metropolitan Division of a special Garda unit which, initially, will be operated by a sergeant and 10 Gardaí under the direction of the inspector in charge of crime prevention measures. The task of this Garda unit will be, with the co-operation of parents, teachers, clergy, youth leaders and other persons and organisations interested in youth welfare, to guide young boys into channels of activity leading to good citizenship.
Whilst the members of the Garda in this special section will be generally available, at the request of parents and teachers, to give friendly advice and guidance they will be mainly concerned with two classes of juveniles.
The first class will comprise boys who are first offenders on a minor charge, who have not previously come under unfavourable notice, whose parents agree to co-operate with the police by accepting help and advice about their future and, in whose case, it has been decided, with the consent of the injured party, to deal with the offence by way of warning rather than by prosecution.
The second class will cover the boy who is a potential delinquent, the juvenile who is not known to have committed any offence but who is brought to the notice of the Garda Unit by parents, teachers, etc., for truancy, unruly conduct, or any behaviour which, if not corrected, might lead him into criminal ways.
The members of the Force selected for this unit will undergo a course of special training and study.
When experience has been gained of the operation of the Garda juvenile unit in Dublin and if it meets with the success for which I hope, I will gladly consider the extension of the scheme to other parts of the country.