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Dún Laoghaire, Environment, Justice and Latest Press Releases

5 May 2005 

 Implement Children Act, not ASBO’s

"The causes of ASB – boredom, a lack of appropriate recreational space, drugs, alcohol, dysfunctional family backgrounds and a sense of isolation from society – will not be addressed by the importation of ASBO’s into Ireland.”

The Minister for Justice’s intention to introduce Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO’s), by way of an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, has been severely criticised by the Green Party. “Measures to tackle anti-social behaviour are starved of resources and we are still waiting for the Government to fully implement the Children Act 2001, yet the Minister insists on putting resources into ASBO’s,” said Green Party Justice spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD.

“We are calling on the Government to tackle anti-social behaviour effectively, not with ASBO’s but through the implementation of the Children Act 2001, sufficient resources for Juvenile Liaison Officers, more community Gardaí and investment in proper facilities for disadvantaged areas.”

“The Green Party is opposed to the introduction of ASBO’s for many reasons. They represent summary justice. They are civil court orders, which require a lower standard of proof than criminal proceedings and can be based on hearsay evidence. However those who breach an ASBO may be jailed. About one-third of all ASBO’s imposed in the UK are breached and the number of children being received into custody for breaching an ASBO is now running at about fifty a month. It costs around €250,000 a year to detain a youth in Oberstown Centre for young offenders in Lusk, Co. Dublin.”

“The Green Party believes the challenge of anti-social behaviour can be confronted through a combination of the immediate implementation of the wide-range of measures available under the Children Act 2001 and making available proper resources for existing programmes and support services for local communities in need of assistance.”

“For instance, the Gardaí already operates a diversion programme for children who come to their attention. Although it currently succeeds in diverting 90% of its young participants away from crime, it does not have enough Juvenile Liaison Officers, so many potential participants cannot be dealt with. Schools do not have adequate resources for dealing with children who have special needs or for ensuring their pupils are eating balanced meals. There aren’t enough social workers to provide support to families in need of help. Planning processes still do not always mainstream anti-ASB best-practice into all building proposals.”

“The causes of ASB – boredom, a lack of appropriate recreational space, drugs, alcohol, dysfunctional family backgrounds and a sense of isolation from society – will not be addressed by the importation of ASBO’s into Ireland.”

“Instead I call on the Government to undertake the following: 

-Implement all the provisions of the Children Act 2001; 

-Give Juvenile Liaison Officers sufficient resources; 

-Provide more community Gardai; 

-Fill the vacant posts on the National Education and Welfare Board; and 

-Invest in proper facilities for disadvantaged areas, as was promised under the RAPID Programme.”
ENDS