Issue 31: March 2001 - Youth Work Ireland

3. Accident and emergency wards are reporting abig increase in recent years in the number of injuriesinflicted as a result of alcohol. Dr Peter O'Connor,who has been an A&E consultant in the MaterHospital for over 20 years stated that as many as 50per cent of casualty admissions are for alcoholrelatedinjuries.The Minister also said he would be approaching theAdvertising Standards Authority of Ireland with aview to improvements in its voluntary code foradvertising alcohol. These would include a ban onadvertising in media where more than 25 per cent ofthe audience was under age, and if the voluntarycode did not work, statutory measures would beexplored.2001/pr-0602.htm)The Equality Division of the Department will providethe secretariat for the group.For further information on theprogramme contact:Department of Justice, Equality andLaw Reform,72 - 76 St. Stephens Green,Dublin 2.Tel: 01 /6028202 Fax: 01 /661 5461Email: info@justice.iep0LIcyFuNDINGFor further information on the campaigncontact:Department of Health and Children,Hawkins House,Hawkins Street,Dublin 2.Tel: 01 /6354000 Fax: 01 /6354001Website: www.doh.ieNEW ANTI-RACISM AWARENESSPROGRAMME LAUNCHEDThe Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform,Mr. John O'Donoghue has recently announced athree-year National Anti-Racism/lnterculturalismPublic Awareness programme. The Programme willreceive Government funding of £4.5 million and willenable a Steering Group to design and implement aset of actions aimed at combating racism in society.The programme will be based on an outlineframework developed by the National ConsultativeCommittee on Racism and lnterculturalism andinitiatives will be taken in the areas of:1 Community and Local Development1 Media and Communications1 The Role of Statutory Authorities1 Public Education.The Minister has just announced the composition ofthe Steering Group. The members selected for thesteering group can be seen at the following webaddress:www.gov.ie/justice/Press%20Releses/Press-Irish YouthWork SceneIn January of this year the first sitting took place ofPilot Drugs Court in Dublin. This 18-month schemewill be operated in the Dublin District Court dealingwith a maximum of 100 offenders primarily from theNorth Dublin inner city area. It will sit twice a weekfor persons aged 17 years of age or over who pleadguilty/have been found guilty of a drug/drug-relatedoffence of a non-violent nature that would normallywarrant imprisonment.A court supervised treatment and/or rehabilitationprogramme will be made available tailored to meetthe individual needs of each offender. Theservices/programmes will be provided by theEastern Regional Health Authority, Probation andWelfare Service, FAS, and the Department ofEducation & Science with services being soughtfrom other agencies where appropriate.Lawyers only become involved with the possibility ofthe defendant's treatment services being terminatedand two community Gardai will be present to effectarrest warrants for non-appearance/refusal toadhere to the terms of the programme. Twoprobation officers will also be assigned, and ifsuccessful it is hoped that it will be considered formainstreaming.Similar systems already operate in other countries,most notably in the USA, which had up to 75%success rates in non-reoffending in some parts ofthecountry.March 2001p0LIcyFUNDINGp0LICYFuNDING