Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
777. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of prosecutions under the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 that have taken place in each of the years since the commencement of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38711/26]
View answerThe Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024, which was commenced in May 2024, makes it an offence for an adult to:
• Compel, coerce, direct or deceive a child for the purpose of engaging in criminal activity.
• Induce, invite, aid, abet, counsel or procure a child to engage in criminal activity.
Those found guilty of these offences may face imprisonment of up to 12 months on summary conviction and up to five years on indictment.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that 14 proceedings (charge/summons) have been initiated since the introduction of the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 each citing an offence of: Compel, Coerce, Direct or Deceive a child to cause them to engage in criminal activity.
Witness summons and proceedings subsequently invalidated have been excluded from the count.
This legislation recognises the life-long impact and harm done to a child by drawing them into criminal activity, and is one of a set of holistic measures progressed by my Department under the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027.
