Review planned for monitoring of sex offenders

A top level review of Garda efforts to monitor sex offenders and paedophiles has been ordered by Government.

Confirmation of the move came as Minister for Children Brian Lenihan unveiled plans to improve how the justice system deals with children and young offenders.

As part of a wide ranging series of initiatives, the minister said Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy has been asked to review the resources his force deploys in tracking sex offenders.

"The Government is committed to ensuring that the needs of children are fully met," said Mr Lenihan, unveiling a range of measures on youth justice.

The minister said his plans offered alternatives to placing young people behind bars.

He also announced an investment package including:

Extra resources for the Probation Service, with cash earmarked for the supervision of sex offenders after their release.

The appointment of three extra judges to specialise in youth crime

The creation of 75 new posts in the Probation Service and Irish Youth Justice Service.

The recruitment of 28 new Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers

Resources to help meet the mental health needs of children in the justice system.

"We have set up the Irish Youth Justice Service to spearhead the co-ordinated delivery of services to young people," said Lenihan.

"I have brought in the provisions of the Children Act, 2001, to expand the options a court will have at its disposal when deciding how it deals with a young offender and ensure that imprisonment will be a last resort."

Mr Lenihan also said the system of monitoring sex offenders and paedophiles must be robust to ensure children are protected.

He said Government had asked the Garda Commissioner to review the resources currently deployed by gardaí for such monitoring and to report on his findings to the Minister for Justice.

"Some children need and deserve our protection and help to fulfil their potential," said Mr Lenihan.

"Today's package of measures is designed to deliver more for those children."

Youth groups welcomed the moves, but expressed concern the changes may place extra strain on the health service.

"While the Children's Act and international research has shown detention should be a matter of absolute last resort and only for the most serious cases this is still not the case in Ireland," said Michael McLoughlin of Youth Work Ireland.

"The spectre of children being detained in adult prisons must end with this initiative.

"It will also be important to ensure that the HSE is ready and able to cope with the increased demands under such a system.

"It will be vital to ensure young people in trouble with the law do not become another waiting list."

Barnardos Director of Advocacy Norah Gibbons welcomed efforts to implement the 2001 Children Act.

"The current system has failed to provide meaningful alternatives for young people which could help divert them away from crime," she said.

"If we are serious about providing a real alternative by following a welfare route, it will mean the Health Service Executive's already stretched resources, coming under more pressure.

"Therefore a specifically matched funding package would need to be detailed."

Announcing the package, the minister also said Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats have promised that, if re-elected, they will recruit a further 1,000 gardaí.

Sinn Féin's Aengus O Snodaigh accused Government of using investment in the justice system to buy votes, questioning why the major announcement on youth justice was made on the eve of a general election.