283 / 736
criminology, and the various social factors which
surround
its existence are constantly changing
as society itself develops. It follows, therefore,
that there can never be a final conclusive report
on the measures necessary for the eradication of
delinquency.
The
report also stresses
the
importance of
committing children from deprived homes and
juvenile
delinquents
to
separate
institutions,
whilst giving to both groups the opportunities of
good primary, secondary and even University
education where the person concerned has the
aptitude and enthusiasm to benefit therefrom. No
one could criticise such a
suggestion without
denying the right of the individual to equality of
opportunity.
Time permits me to mention but one other
recommendation in the report, namely that pro
vision
be made
immediately
for
non-catholic
delinquent and destitute children. At present, no
institution exists for such children, and in justice
it would appear to be an important gap to be
bridged in our prison system.
While I am on the subject of juvenile delinquency
) would like to refer briefly to one other aspect of
it, namely the probation system.
The latest report on crime submitted by the
Commissioner of
the Garda Siochana
(which
covers
the year ended 30th September, 1967)
^hows
that 9521
persons were convicted
for
indictable olTences. Of these, 5395 (over 56 per
c^nt) were under 21 years of age. Bearing in mind
the fact that the majority of this 56 per cent is
given "the benefit of the Probation Act" (of 1907),
the importance of the probation service becomes
evident. But in fact, there are no more than 8
professional
probation
officers
in
the
entire
country. Furthermore, their activities are confined
to
the Dublin Metropolitan Area. Of its very
nature, the probation service must be adequately
staffed so that each probation officer will be able
to form deep and meaningful relationships with
the individuals committed to his care. Inter Alia,
this
entails
close communication with
home,
school, employer and soforth, and time is the
probation officer's most precious commodity. It is
unrealistic and shortsighted
to expect a single
probation officer to look after several hundred
offenders to any worthwhile extent. While
the
Garda Siochana
initiated a
"Juvenile Liaison
Officer" Scheme in 1963, the 30 or so men and
women operating this scheme use prcvcnlativc
measures on the whole, and cater only for those
under 17 years of age.
By way of comparision, we could measure our
probation service against Britain's and take heed
of the fact that there are over 3,000 probation
officers operating there. Allowing for the difference
in population,, it is abundantly clear that our
probation service is inexcusably inadequate and
urgently in need of radical reform and expansion.
Housing Bill
1968
The Bill which has been passed by Dail Eireann
but not yet enacted proposes to establish a new
system of control of use of habitable houses.
Broadly speaking a habitable house means prem
ises in the functional area 'of a housing authority
which are used, or were last used, as a dwelling. In
the case of a habitable house permission is required
from the Housing Authority in respect of
(a) demolition either in .whoje or in part, other
than demolition for, the. purpose of providing
an extension prpther improvement or carrying
out works of maintenance, and
(b) use other than use for human habitation.
These clauses are disjunctive so that permission
will be required for change of use even if demol
ition is not involved. An example'of the operation
of the- Act is'the case Of ^.professional man who
wishes to convert 'his -private residence into an
office or consulting rooms. In such case permission
will be
required whether or not
the change
involves physical alteration or demolition or part
of the premises. Where however the proposed
rrnnge of use relates only to part of a habitable -
house permission is not required provided that the
house is principally used as a dwelling and that
the change of use does not cause to reside else
where- a person who
immediately before
the
change was ordinarily resident in the house. The
Bill contains provisions for
penalties for non-compliance,
reinstatement notice enforceable against
the
owner and persons having an
interest
in
premises,
conditions attached to permission for change of
user
including
a
condition
requiring
the
occupier to pay certain sums to a housing
authority,
charging orders by
a housing authority
in
respect of monies due. by
an owner or
occupier,
appeal to the Minister for Local Government
against refusal of permission or conditions
attached to permission, .