New community-based sanctions aimed at reducing the number of children being placed in detention centres are due to come into force from March this year.
The sanctions were provided for in the Children's Act six years ago, but most of them were never enforced due to a lack of Government funding. Minister for Children Brian Lenihan said yesterday the new measures would improve outcomes for children in a range of areas such as re-offending, education, family support and substance abuse.
The sanctions include requiring a child to undergo sport, training or educational activities; offering a mentor or the close supervision of a relative with a positive influence; removing a child from negative peer or other influences in the community; or requiring a child to attend a day centre.
The failure to introduce alternatives to detention has been a significant factor behind an increase in detention rates of children in recent years, according to research by Dr Ursula Kilkelly of University College Cork.
Mr Lenihan said funding of the measures will form part of a wider €12 billion investment plan for children under the National Development Plan.
Of this, €367 million is due to be allocated for youth justice initiatives which will expand measures to divert children from crime and redevelop existing detention facilities. The number of Garda youth diversion projects is due to increase from 74 to 130 during the lifetime of the plan, at a cost of €120 million.
A major element of the plan includes the development of thousands of new childcare places. Under plans announced last year, 50,000 new places are due to come on stream by 2010. A review is due to take place at this stage, after which more places are likely to be provided.
He said that since 2000 a total of €500 million has been invested in the creation of 32,000 new childcare places, and the enhancement of 24,500 existing places.
Mr Lenihan said the plans for 50,000 new childcare places includes 10,000 pre-school places.
He said there were no plans to provide a year's free pre-school to children, as has been promised by some Opposition parties. Instead, his priority was to address issues such as the quality of childcare available and to ensure children in less advantaged neighbourhoods were able to avail of pre-school care.
At a future date, Mr Lenihan said, he hoped the Government could be in a position to offer pre-school places at a nominal cost to all children.