My Department currently funds, through the Irish Youth Justice Service, two Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDP) in the Dublin 8 area. These are the DAN GYDP and the YIS GYDP. In 2007, these Garda Youth Diversion Projects received funding of €94,162 and €51,400 respectively. GYDP funding covers staff, operational and programme costs; capital grants are not a feature of GYDP funding.
The Garda Youth Diversion Programme was placed on a statutory basis under the Children Act 2001, as amended. This programme operates under the general superintendence and control of the Garda Commissioner. The Deputy will be aware that it is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to decide on the prioritisation and allocation of resources within the force. However I can confirm that my Department provides funding, via the Irish Youth Justice Service, to support the system of restorative cautioning under the Diversion Programme. In 2007, funding to the amount of €150,000 was provided by my Department to fund Garda Restorative Justice Conferences across the country.