Minister of State Collins attends Court Accompaniment Scheme Training
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
- Minister Collins welcomes this new scheme which will provide assistance to children who appear before the Courts as defendants
- 241 Youth Justice Workers have been trained to date, with 250 out of 300 expected to be trained by end of September
Minister of State with responsibility for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice, Niall Collins, attended the new Court Accompaniment Scheme training today in the Absolute Hotel, Limerick. The training, delivered by Victim Support at Court and the Solas Youth Diversion Project, outlines the new system of accompanying young people before the courts as defendants and providing them with informal support and explanations of court procedures.
Speaking at the training, Minister Collins said:
“The Youth Justice Strategy places human rights at the centre of our approach to youth justice in Ireland. The bedrock of a fair and impartial judicial system recognises that the rights of both the victim and the accused should be vindicated in Court.
We have systems in place already, through supports like the Victim Support at Court – or V-SAC - scheme, that assist victims of crime to navigate the complexities and challenges of appearing in Court.
But we must also uphold the rights of the accused.”
The Department of Justice funds a range of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who provide court accompaniment for victims of crime, most notably Victim Support at Court (V-SAC). The role of these NGOs is to explain in layperson’s terms what is happening at the various stages of the proceedings and to be there as a support for the witness.
The role does not include advocacy or representation, as that is the role of the defendant’s legal representative.
Since late 2024, the Department has been progressing work to replicate this service for young defendants via the Youth Diversion Project (YDP) network, through engagement with the Ombudsman for Children, members of the judiciary and the Community Based Organisations responsible for the oversight of various YDPs.
Several YDPs have expressed their interest in being part of the first wave of the scheme’s introduction and are willing to provide this service in various locations throughout the country.
Minister Collins added:
“The YDP Court Accompaniment Scheme will replicate the support already provided for victims for the accused young person, many of whom will have never experienced the inside of a court before and the intimidating environment that they might find themselves in.
As with the victim’s scheme, the role does not include advocacy or representation, as that is the role of the defendant’s legal representative. It provides a service for young defendants by accompanying them and providing informal support and explanations of court procedures as necessary.
Legal terminology and language, court processes and procedures, the flow of legal argument and what can and cannot be said in Court can be difficult or even impossible for a layperson to navigate and understand. Many young people who are engaged with YDPs may come from a background of educational disengagement or disadvantage, which can negatively impact on their ability to understand the Court process.
This Scheme aims to assist these young people and ensure fairness in the justice system.”
A training package to equip Youth Justice Workers with the necessary knowledge and skills to undertake this work has been jointly developed by V-SAC and the Solas Project and is being offered to interested project staff on a phased basis throughout 2025.
Additionally, both Le Chéile Mentoring (a national volunteer mentoring, restorative justice and family support service) and Oberstown Children Detention Campus representatives have indicated that their staff would benefit from receiving this training and arrangements are now being made for them to participate in future sessions.
Notes to Editors
Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour.
Considerable progress has been made to extend the YDP network throughout the State. Two new YDPs have been commissioned for East Clare and North Tipperary and will be fully operational by end of year which will achieve full nationwide YDP coverage, ensuring any child who needs access to their service can get it, no matter what part of the country they are in.
YDPs receive referrals from a number of sources, including An Garda Síochána, but also from Tusla, schools and other community-based organisations.
Outside of Dublin, many YDPs cover an entire county, which makes it easy to identify the relevant project in a particular area.
Even where this is not the case, the YDP catchment areas tend to correspond with the boundaries of Garda Operational Areas and, as such, An Garda Síochána via the Juvenile Liaison Officer service will be able to advise and make contact with the relevant YDP in each case.
Discussions are also ongoing with An Garda Síochána and the Probation Service, who have expressed an interest in having Juvenile Liaison Officers and Probation Officers participate in this training.