The age of criminal responsibility has officially increased from seven to 12 years, the Minister of State for Children Brian Lenihan announced yesterday.
The change means most children up to the age of 12 who commit offences will be dealt with under the care system rather than the criminal justice system.
However, an exception will be made for children between 10 and 11 involved in serious offences such as murder, manslaughter, rape or aggravated sexual assault.
Where a child under 12 is suspected of committing an offence, he or she will be taken to his or her parents by a member of the Garda Síochána. Intervention by the Health Service Executive (HSE) will be provided where the child and his or her family are in need of such support.
Additional resources for the HSE have been provided to support interventions with troubled children, according to Mr Lenihan.
"This legislation takes very young children out of the criminal justice system and provides additional safeguards for children up to the age of 14," he said.
