Minister for Children launches National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-2010
27 March 2008
Farmleigh House Dublin
The Minister for Children, Mr Brendan Smith TD, today launched the National Youth Justice Strategy for 2008-2010. The Strategy focuses on children who have already had some contact with the criminal justice system.
The aim of the Strategy is to provide a partnership approach among agencies working in the youth justice system. It includes a number of goals and targets for IYJS and other agencies to help measure progress and to assess where available resources should be targeted.
Speaking at the launch of the Strategy in Farmleigh, the Minister said: ‘The purpose of the National Youth Justice Strategy is to develop a
co-ordinated approach among agencies working in the youth justice system over the next three years. I am convinced that the Strategy lays strong foundations for the continued development of a successful youth justice system focused on reducing offending and improving outcomes for both young people and our community.’
The Strategy was developed in consultation with a number of key stakeholders including Government Departments and agencies. ‘The co-operation that went into the preparation of this Strategy is testament to the joined-up Government approach in the youth justice sector
Based on the principles of the Children Act, 2001 and the Government’s decision to reform the youth justice area, the Strategy contains five high level goals:
1. To provide leadership and build public confidence in the youth justice system;
2. To work to reduce offending by diverting young people from offending behaviour;
3. To promote the greater use of community sanctions and initiatives to deal with young people who offend;
4. To provide a safe and secure environment for detained children which will assist their early re-integration into the community;
5. To strengthen and develop information and data sources in the youth justice system to support more effective policies and services.
‘The Strategy will be progressed at a national level by the National Youth Justice Oversight Group, which I have established in order to facilitate the cross-agency collaboration needed. The group will include representatives of key stakeholders involved in the Strategy’s implementation, including the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS). At local level, where appropriate, Youth Justice Teams will be established as sub-groups of Children’s Services Committees to enhance delivery of outcomes for the children concerned’ concluded Minister Smith.
Ends.
Note for editors:
The National Youth Justice Strategy was developed through consultation with key stakeholders. A list of those who made submissions in relation to the strategy is included as Appendix 1 to the strategy. Submissions were received from a range of Government Departments, including the Departments of Education and Science; Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs as well as service providers such as the Health Service Executive and the community and voluntary sector. This is reflected in the cross cutting nature of the strategy. Through the Office of the Minister for Children, children from Garda Youth Diversion Projects were consulted and the OMC’s Children and Young People’s Forum.
Senior officials from Government Departments, criminal justice agencies and service providers as well as the community and voluntary sector have a role to play in the strategy and were present for its launch.
The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS)
The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) is an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with responsibility for leading and driving reform in the area of youth justice.
Working with the Office of the Minister for Children, the IYJS is guided by the principles of the Children Act 2001. The IYJS funds organisations and projects providing services, including Garda and Probation Projects, to young people aged under 18 years who find themselves in conflict with the law. These children may be involved with An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and the Courts Service. The IYJS is also responsible for the management and development of children detention facilities.
The remit of the IYJS is to improve the delivery of youth justice services and reduce youth offending. This challenge is met by focusing on diversion and rehabilitation involving greater use of community based interventions and the promotion of initiatives to deal with young people who offend. Providing a safe and secure environment for detained children and supporting their early re-integration back into the community is also a key function.
For more information on the National Youth Justice Strategy or the Irish Youth Justice Service, please see http://www.iyjs.ie
Children’s Services Committees
Towards 2016, the 10 year social partnership framework agreement provides an overarching framework to address key challenges that individuals face at each stage of the lifecycle, including a specific focus on the needs of children and young adults. It made provision for the establishment of a high-level group chaired by the Office of the Minister for Children, now known as the National Children’s Strategy Implementation Group (NCSIG) with membership drawn from relevant Government Departments, the HSE, representatives of local authorities, the education sector and other key agencies. It also made provision at local level for the development of the Children’s Services Committees (CSCs) in each County Development Board.
As part of the process of achieving its key priority of ensuring implementation of the many impressive strategic plans and policy documents drawn up and published in relation to children’s services in Ireland, the NCSIG has approved the establishment of four multi-agency CSCs in the following areas: Dublin City County Council, South Dublin County Council, Donegal County Council and Limerick City Council.
Their objective is to:
• Develop strong cross-agency working relationships;
• Secure support for the joint implementation of policies and initiatives which require inter-agency action;
• maximise integration of service delivery at the local level.
These four will lead on the development of a prototype structure and methodology for collaboration of service delivery which could be used across all County Development Boards.
Ends.
