The Government will consider raising the age of criminal responsibility from seven to 10 years as part of a number of reforms to the juvenile justice system due to be announced later this year.
Minister of State for Children Brian Lenihan told The Irish Times he believed it was not right that children under the age of 10 were entering the criminal justice system and that a welfare-centred approach would be more appropriate.
He also said he wanted to replace detention centres located on the grounds of adult jails, such as St Patrick's Institution, and replace them with correction schools, such as Trinity House in north Dublin.
Ireland's age of criminal responsibility, which is the lowest in Europe, and use of detention facilities for teenagers have been criticised by campaigners and a UN committee on children's rights.
Government officials are believed to be in discussions over securing resources that would accompany increasing the age of criminal responsibility to 10 years. The move would place children, who are currently dealt with by the criminal justice system, in the hands of social services.
Plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility have been delayed before due to concerns that childcare services could not cope with sudden demands on an overstretched services.
It is expected a number of changes to the juvenile justice system will be made later this year in advance of the Government's appearance before the UN in the coming months, where it will be questioned on its progress on advancing children's rights.
Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the State is obliged to compile progress reports towards implementing the international agreement at six-year intervals.
The Government has taken criticism by the UN Committee on the Convention on the Rights of the Child seriously.
In the last report, published in 1998, criticism about the lack of co-ordination in the delivery of childcare services led to the establishment of the National Children's Office and the Ombudsman for Children.
Plans to introduce antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos) are likely to come in for criticism in the UN's next report.
A move to increase the age of criminal responsibility is likely to meet with a mixed response from campaigners, such as the Children's Rights Alliance, which has called for it to be raised to 12, as provided for in the Children's Act.
Government officials are, however, concerned about serious offences which children of this age have been involved in, as well as the pressure under which it would put childcare services.
Mr Lenihan also said he supported placing greater emphasis on diversion projects and education-based supports for younger teenagers who get into trouble with the law.
