The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, has announced a £50,000 project to help keep children in Dublin away from crime and drugs. The project offers outdoor activities and development courses to children aged 10 to 16 in the north inner city.
The NICKOL (North Inner City Keeps On Learning) project is the latest of 12 juvenile diversion projects throughout the State, involving the Garda, local youth clubs, the probation and welfare services and the community.
It will concentrate on specific areas of the north inner city, and will offer young people opportunities for camping, climbing, fishing, drama, dance, music and cooking. There will also be courses in community awareness, communications, and social and life skills.
Welcoming the announcement, Mr Tony Gregory TD, said: "Education is the critical area if people are to overcome social disadvantages."
Mr O'Donoghue said that solving the crime problem in urban areas involved more than just law enforcement. He said a wide range of socio-economic issues had to be looked at too, and there were encouraging indications from other areas where these projects were running.