Project aims to keep children out of crime
By Eoin Licken

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, has announced a ú50,000 project to
help keep children in Dublin away from crime and drugs. The project offers
outdoor activities and development courses to children aged 10 to 16 in the
north inner city.

The NICKOL (North Inner City Keeps On Learning) project is the latest of 12
juvenile diversion projects throughout the State, involving the Garda,
local youth clubs, the probation and welfare services and the community.

It will concentrate on specific areas of the north inner city, and will
offer young people opportunities for camping, climbing, fishing, drama,
dance, music and cooking. There will also be courses in community
awareness, communications, and social and life skills.

Welcoming the announcement, Mr Tony Gregory TD, said: "Education is the
critical area if people are to overcome social disadvantages."

Mr O'Donoghue said that solving the crime problem in urban areas involved
more than just law enforcement. He said a wide range of socioeconomic
issues had to be looked at too, and there were encouraging indications from
other areas where these projects were running.

_ Copyright: The Irish Times