The Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney says anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) will only be used as a last resort.
Speaking at the launch of a study into a pilot early intervention programme for children experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties, Ms Harney said children - some as young as 10 or 11-years-of-age - are causing serious difficulties to older people, single mothers and others in the community.
Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney: ASBOs will be a last resort
She said the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell had substantially modified the proposals based on the experience of other countries especially the UK.
Yesterday the children's ombudsman Emily Logan claimed the Government's plan to introduce Asbos would have a negative impact on children and young people.
In her recommendations to the Minister for Justice on the legislation, Ms Logan said changes to the Children's Act 2001 were in some cases unnecessary and counter-productive.
"Asbos are likely to create more problems than they solve and I question the need for them in the first place," Ms Logan said.
Today's study - based on a programme of early intervention in Clondalkin -showed that early intervention by parents could reduce problem behaviour by children by almost a third.
The programme, known as The Incredible Years, has been operating in Clondalkin since March 2004 and will now be transferred to other communities in the country.
Some 32 parents of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties - mainly between the ages of 3 and 9 - participated in the survey.
The Tánaiste said the model is one of "the most researched cognitive and behavioural modification programmes in existence for young people." Of particular importance, she noted, was the positive feedback from the parents who had participated.