Department of Children launches bail supervision tender

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) has launched the tender process for a new bail supervision scheme to be piloted in Dublin by Q2 2016.

Children’s Minister James Reilly said the scheme aims to “reduce the need for a court to place young people in custody where they’re alleged to have been involved in criminal behaviour, while being remanded on bail pending criminal proceedings”.

The tender invites “suitably qualified and interested providers” to apply to deliver the intervention service.

The proposed scheme will be operational on a pilot basis for up to 25 young people in the Dublin court area by the second quarter of 2016.

It is intended to give greater choice to courts when a child is not complying with their bail conditions, allowing them to be referred to a bail supervision scheme with a “regime of strict supervision of bail conditions”.