RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN ACTION: Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiatives’ Restorative Practices Programme

Abstract

This article describes CDI’s Restorative Practices (RP) programme in Tallaght West by discussing the origins, implementation and independent evaluation of the programme. A definition and explanation of RP based on existing literature and research is offered and the findings of the evaluation of CDI’s RP programme are presented along with testimonies from users of RP in Tallaght West. CDI was one of three Prevention and Early Intervention Programme sites and is now funded under the Government’s Area Based Childhood Programme which supports the delivery of a range of services to improve outcomes for children and young people in Tallaght. The article concludes with the key learning to date about the use and impact of RP in a community setting along with a discussion of possible areas for further research, or investigation.