691. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has been provided with a post-enactment report on the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024; and if same will be made publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45552/26]

The 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.

The Act was informed by the Department-funded Greentown Programme, which as part of its efforts to disrupt criminal networks and the recruitment of children into these networks, offers an intensive programme to support children, young people and their families.

I can inform the Deputy that the Post Enactment Report for the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 was laid to the Oireachtas library on 2 July 2025. It is available from the Oireachtas website via this link: opac.oireachtas.ie/knowvation/app/consolidatedSearch/#search/v=grid,c=1,q=field26%3D%5B2025%5D%2Ctitle%3D%5B%22post%20enactment%20report%22%5D%2CqueryType%3D%5B64%5D,sm=s,l=library3_lib%2Clibrary7_lib,a=t.

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 being progressed by my Department under the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027.