The courts will have more options to issue community-based sanctions to young people in trouble with the law under a new package of youth justice reforms announced yesterday.
Increased resources approved by the Government this week will lead to the appointment of an additional 100 posts in the youth justice system including 70 new probation officers and 28 new Garda juvenile liaison officers who will work specifically with children at risk.
The Government has approved the appointment of three additional District Court judges to work exclusively in the Child-ren's Court. Specific support staff will be assigned to ensure effective monitoring and management of cases involving young offenders.
Minister for Children Brian Lenihan said the measures will help ensure detention is a measure of last resort for children in conflict with the law.
"Some children need and deserve our protection and help to fulfil their potential. We must continue to provide the appropriate range and level of intervention. Today's package of measures is designed to deliver more for those children," he said.
Significantly, judges will also have the power to divert offending children out of the criminal justice system and into the welfare or health system where it is in their best interests.
This is likely to have significant implications for an already over-stretched Health Service Executive (HSE) which will have to deal with increased numbers of children.
Yesterday's announcement does not include extra funding for health authorities. Senior Government sources claim privately that any difficulties in delivering services to children at HSE level are related to management issues rather than resources.
The youth justice reforms received a welcome from campaigners, although some warned it will need to be matched by increased resources for the HSE.
Solicitor and child law expert Geoffrey Shannon said: "Minister Lenihan has made very significant progress in the youth justice area. Today's announcement will ensure the Children's Act 2001 can achieve its full potential."
Barnardos' director of advocacy, Norah Gibbons, also welcomed the report, but emphasised the need to increase resources for the HSE and other agencies. "A specifically matched funding package would need to be detailed and time lined to ensure the best use of resources for young people, their families and communities," she said.
Head of the Probation Service Michael Donnellan said the new resources will provide more meaningful alternatives for dealing with young offenders.
"It is a real confidence boost in showing that we are willing to invest in community-based alternatives to detention."