Written Answers. - Youth Diversion Projects.
David Stanton
Ceist:
57
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
his plans for the future development and expansion of the various Garda diversion projects; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28296/03]
The Garda youth diversion project scheme is a community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiative which seeks to divert young persons from becoming involved, or further involved, in anti-social or criminal behaviour. It provides suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve long-term employability prospects. The projects also contribute to improving the quality of life in communities and enhancing relations between the Garda and the communities. I am committed to their continuing development and, as resources permit, their expansion. There has been a dramatic expansion in project numbers in recent years, from 12 in 1997 to 64 at present. This process has been made possible, in part, by funding under the national development plan. The locations of the new projects were decided on according to local needs, prioritised by the Garda authorities in conjunction with my Department. The rapid expansion in project numbers created quality assurance challenges in respect of the projects' operation and management outcomes.
My Department commissioned an evaluation report on the youth diversion projects, called Impact and Effectiveness of the Garda Special Projects. The report suggested that a set of guidelines was required to develop a planned and strategic approach. It recommended that the guidelines should set out the nature of youth crime prevention and diversion projects, the implementation structures required to deliver programmes at local level, the roles of the various stakeholders involved and the range of actions and measures appropriate to fund a good crime prevention work. In 2001 my Department commissioned the Centre for Social and Educational Research at Dublin Institute of Technology Rathmines to prepare comprehensive guidelines for the establishment, operation, management and administration of the projects. The guidelines, which were launched in May 2003, act as a benchmark against which applications for new projects will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. They should aid the establishment, operation, administration and monitoring of new and existing youth diversion projects. They set out best practice in respect of preventative activities and interventions in dealing with marginalised young people and will act as a practical aid to projects, their management committees and their co-ordinators.
Funding of €5.577 million has been allocated to these and related projects in 2003. I have secured an overall increase of 9.5% in the Estimates for the Garda Síochána Vote for 2004. The continuing need to maintain discipline in the public finances, however, means that I must prioritise expenditure and so cannot increase the funding for all items of expenditure in the Vote. Consequently, the abridged Estimates volume for 2004 provides for funding of €5.318 million for the youth diversion projects, a reduction of 4.6% on the figure for 2003. Given that most of the more recently established projects incurred start up expenses in the last two years which are not expected to exist in the coming years, I am confident that all the projects can be maintained on the proposed funding allocation. It is not envisaged that additional Garda youth diversion projects will be established in the short-term. The possibility of establishing further projects in the future in light of budgetary conditions will remain.
The Garda juvenile diversion programme provides that, in certain circumstances, a juvenile under 18 years of age who freely accepts responsibility for a criminal incident may be cautioned as an alternative to prosecution. The programme has proven to be highly successful in diverting young people away from crime by offering guidance and support to juveniles and their families. In the more serious cases, juveniles are placed under the supervision of Garda juvenile liaison officers, who are specially trained members of the Garda Síochána responsible for administering the programme at local level. Part 4 of the Children Act 2001 introduced the concepts of restorative justice, specifically restorative cautioning and restorative conferencing, to the juvenile diversion programme. Essentially, these provisions provide for the inclusion, where appropriate and possible, of the victim, the juvenile's family and the wider stakeholding community in the process of diversion.
Most Garda juvenile liaison officers have received training in mediation skills to facilitate these innovative developments. Advanced training has been provided to selected officers. Ongoing evaluation of restorative justice practice is carried out by the Garda research unit. As Garda juvenile liaison officers become more skilled in administering restorative justice, it is planned that they will be able to focus on more complex and high-risk offenders, with a view to further reducing recidivism. Decisions on the allocation of funding to the programme rest with the Garda Commissioner.
