Minister for Children's Speech at IYJS Conference

Address by the Minister for Children

Mr Brendan Smith TD,

at the opening of the First Biennial Conference

of the Irish Youth Justice Service

Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell

6  March 2008

 

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen and thank you very much for your welcome. As a Cavan man, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here to Ballyconnell, especially those speakers and participants who have travelled long distances to be here.

 

I would like to thank Michelle Shannon, National Director of the Irish Youth Justice Service, for her kind invitation to open this first biennial Irish Youth Justice Service Conference. As Minister for Children, the continued progress being made in the field of youth justice is of great importance both to myself and to my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Brian Lenihan TD.  The holding of this conference is another key step in advancing our collective understanding of the problems and possibilities facing all of us and a chance to work together to ensure that the best possible outcomes are provided to young people at risk of offending in our community.

 

The theme of this conference is very appropriate - "Best Practice for Youth Justice, Best Practice for All".  For my part, I can assure you that the Government is firmly committed to ensuring best practice is applied to the provision of youth justice in this country.  As many of you will know, the Children Act 2001 was a landmark piece of legislation designed to provide Ireland with a twin-track child welfare and justice approach which focuses on preventing offending behaviour, diversion from crime and rehabilitation.  The detention of a child is to be used only as a last resort and after all other avenues have been explored.  These principles underpin the work of the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS).

 

Established in 2005, the IYJS is an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which comes within the strategic remit of my own Office, the Office of the Minister for Children.  IYJS is committed to creating a safer society through a partnership approach with key stakeholders to reduce youth offending.  Indeed, I am pleased to see this partnership approach reflected in your attendance here today, where all the key stakeholders are represented. I hope we can all learn from each other and share our experiences over the next couple of days.

 

Of course, the improvement of service delivery and outcomes in the youth justice system is a key priority of Government and one of my key roles as Minister for Children.  My Office focuses on harmonising policy issues that affect children in areas such as early childhood care and education, youth justice, child welfare and protection, children and young people’s participation, research on children and cross-cutting initiatives for children.

 

A significant amount of progress has been made since these new structures were established. This past fortnight alone has been particularly notable and, what I believe are historic far reaching decisions, have been made. I am delighted to announce here today that the Government has approved the publication of the National Youth Justice Strategy, which will cover the years 2008-2010. I will shortly be officially launching this strategy which was developed through consultation with key stakeholders. Its purpose is to develop a co-ordinated approach among agencies working in the youth justice system over the next three years. The strategy deals with children who have already had some contact with the criminal justice system. It includes a number of goals and targets set to help measure progress and to assess and identify key tasks for the various Government Departments and agencies. These are built around improving service delivery in the youth justice system and working with stakeholders, in achieving these goals.

 

Implementation of the strategy will be progressed at a national level by the National Youth Justice Oversight Group, which I will establish shortly.  The Group will include representatives of key stakeholders involved in the strategy’s implementation. At local level, Youth Justice Teams will also be established, as appropriate, as sub-groups to Children Service Committees to enhance delivery of outcomes for the children concerned.

 

I am also delighted to be able to announce here this morning that the Government decided earlier this week to approve my proposals for the development of new National Children Detention facility on the existing State owned Oberstown campus in Lusk, Co Dublin. This development follows on from the report of a cross-departmental Expert Group to plan for the redevelopment of existing children detention facilities and the development of new facilities which I received just before Christmas.  The new facility will allow for the expansion of the detention school model to 16 and 17 year old boys, who are currently accommodated in St Patrick’s Institution. It will be the result of careful planning and consultation producing a state of the art modern facility capable of supporting staff in delivering a safe, caring environment for welfare, education and rehabilitative programmes.

 

It is no exaggeration to say that this Government decision is a landmark departure in how the State deals with some of its most troubled children. The new facilities at Lusk, which we hope to have partly operational by 2011, will meet the highest international standards. When fully completed, Ireland far from lagging behind, will be a centre of international excellence in best practice for youth detention. I am confident that as a State and as a society, we will be very well positioned to not only make offending children accountable, but also help them to turn away from crime and be reintegrated back into their families and communities. 

 

Having a Minister for Children at the cabinet table with overarching responsibility for children’s policy, including youth justice policies, has helped put youth justice firmly near the top of the Government’s agenda.  Much of this is the culmination of the work put in place to establish new structures, providing leadership, working in partnership together and, of course, the dedicated hard work of so many people which I must also acknowledge here today. 

 

In terms of resources alone, over €140 million has been allocated for capital works in the detention area by the National Development Plan through Exchequer sources.  The Budget provided up on €60 million for the IYJS in 2008, with significant resources allocated to Garda Youth Diversion Projects, Probation projects, the use of community sanctions, restorative justice, the maintenance and development of children detention school facilities.

 

The Programme for Government made a commitment to double the number of Garda Youth Diversion Projects.  The projects challenge offending behaviour and develop children’s skills so they are in a better position to avail of opportunities such as education and employment while providing a structured environment to add stability and support to the young person’s life.  In the short time since the election, I am pleased to say that the number of projects has already been increased from 81 to 100.

 

Another commitment of the Programme for Government is to fund the implementation of a range of community sanctions which came into force in 2007 as an alternative to detention.  These sanctions include community service, intensive supervision, training, and mentoring amongst others. The great advantage of this system is that it allows a child to stay in their school and community while working to reform their behaviour, rather than taking them away from valuable social supports.

 

The Government is also committed to looking at Restorative Justice and has established a Commission chaired by Judge Mary Martin which is due to make recommendations shortly. The use of Restorative Justice in all youth justice programmes is an issue which the IYJS will be considering in the future.

 

The rehabilitation of children in detention is a key priority for the youth justice system.  It is essential that the appropriate programmes and facilities are there to meet the needs of those detained.  To do this, the justice system and the IYJS will need the support of other statutory bodies, and indeed local communities, in delivering these goals.  The continued provision of education and welfare services as well as aftercare on release from detention are among the range of measures necessary to ensure success.

 

Much progress has been made and will continue to be made over the next few years.  I am convinced that the successful implementation of the National Youth Justice Strategy will lay the foundations for ensuring that, working in partnership, our youth justice system continues to develop in line with best practice internationally and, most importantly, we can together build a safer society. 

 

Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom gach rath a ghuí oraibh go léir don Chomhdháil atá romhaibh amach. Tá a fhios agam go mbeidh go leor díospóireachtaí agus pléití spéisiúla ann agus tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh sibh ar chonclúidí luachmhara a dhéanfaidh athchóirí an cheartais i leith an aosa óig a thiomáint chun cinn.

 

Thank you all for your attention.

 

Ends.