An umbrella agency to identify and fill the gaps in services to "at risk" young people should be set up, according to the chairman of the National Crime Council. Mr Padraic White also urged the speedy implementation of the 2001 Children's Act, which requires the development of new structures and services.
These are among a number of proposals aimed at early intervention to prevent "at risk" young people graduating into the criminal justice system. Mr White, who is also chairman of the Northside Partnership, was speaking at a conference of the Irish Association for the Study of Delinquency yesterday.
Mr White drew on his experience in working with the partnership, which, he said, focuses on the individual. Using this approach, it targeted 100 "at risk" children and was involved in an early school-leaving initiative in the Dublin 17 district.
This also involved teachers, parents, the local health board and gardaí, and St Vincent de Paul, and was supported by the Departments of Education and Science and of Social, Community and Family Affairs. The 100 children were identified as at risk of dropping out of school early, with the associated risks of becoming involved in crime and anti-social behaviour.
All 100 have stayed in school, successfully transferring from primary to secondary. At least 10 of them, whose older siblings had dropped out, completed either Junior of Leaving Certificate.
Mr White said that, as a result of the project, there had also been changes in the practices of the schools, including the provision of breakfasts and lunches to 1,600 children, after-school supports and greater flexibility in dealing with such children.
He praised the Garda special projects targeting young people in the 10-18 age group at risk of becoming involved in drugs and crime. However, there was a need for additional services. "The young people seriously at risk of a life dominated by crime and drugs can be identified at community level from as early as 10 or 11 years, but we have not yet found an effective response to avoid or minimise the fate beckoning the vast majority of them," he said.
Referring to the Probation Service, he said: "The evidence available to the service indicates that there is a failure to identify young people at risk of serious offending early enough and then intervene appropriately." The Probation Service should be linked more closely with community-based services.
He said there was a "confusing array" of different custodial centres for children in trouble.