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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022

Tuesday, 31 May 2022

Ceisteanna (584)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

584. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of citizens who have between 1 and 10 , 10 and 20, 20 and 30, 30 and 40, 40 and 50, 50 and 60, 60 and 70 convictions, respectively, in the State; and the number of citizens with convictions continuing in each group up to the highest number of convictions achieved by the citizens with the most convictions. [27586/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am advised by the Court Service and the Garda Commissioner that statistics are not compiled in such a way as to be able to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

It may interest the Deputy to know that the Programme for Government contains a broad range of policies and proposals that represent a coherent approach to enhancing and sustaining a more just and safe society with a specific commitment to review policy options for prison and penal reform. This is being taken forward with a particular focus on reducing reoffending.

As part of this work, a cross-sectoral group which includes the Head of Criminal Justice Policy in my Department, the Director-General of the Irish Prison Service and the Director of the Probation Service, was established last year.

I intend to publish a Penal Policy Action Plan shortly which will set out the actions we will take according to timelines that will be published. Among the issues which will be looked at in the plan are the appropriate use of non-custodial sanctions and the role they can play in addressing criminality, reducing reoffending and providing protection to the public while holding the individual accountable.

This work will also build on a number of initiatives that have been introduced over the past decade to reduce reoffending, including Community Return and Community Support Schemes and the Joint Agency Response to Crime (JARC).

The "Working to Change Social Enterprise and Employment Strategy 2021-2023" sets out my Department’s direction for supporting employment options for people with convictions by simultaneously working to remove systemic barriers so that people can make sustainable changes. It builds upon a solid foundation of employment supports already in place across the criminal justice sector and is a collaboration between the Prison and Probation Service and my Department.

It is also known that substance abuse is an indicator of an increased likelihood of recidivism.

To look at how we address this, last April, together with the Minister for Health and Ministers of State Frank Feighan and Mary Butler, I established a High Level Taskforce to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of persons interacting with the criminal justice system.

In recognition of the need for a cross-Government approach to meeting the complex needs of such people, the Taskforce comprises representatives from a wide cross section of health agencies, the Justice sector and other relevant stakeholders. I am very pleased with the progress made by the Taskforce to date - they submitted an interim report to Minister Donnelly and I in November 2021 and the final report and high level implementation plan for their recommendations are expected in the coming weeks.

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