Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2015
422. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide funding for a Garda youth diversionary project (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12112/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that my Department has responsibility for the Community Programmes Unit of the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) which funds 100 Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDP) nationwide.
On 19 December 2014, I announced that funding will be provided under the Dormant Accounts Disbursement Scheme to expand Irish Youth Justice Service Community Programmes. This new funding will support efforts by my Department and An Garda Síochána to reduce youth crime. There is €2.8 million available to the Irish Youth Justice Service Community Programmes to support a number of proposals, including the establishment of ten new Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) at additional locations around the country, an additional sixteen youth justice workers for existing GYDPs in areas with high levels of youth crime and the roll-out of mentoring supports for GYDPs participants and to assist Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers operating in areas without access to a GYDP. The locations for new projects and for the additional youth justice workers have been selected following a detailed examination by IYJS and An Garda Síochána of national youth crime and population statistics, including a detailed analysis of youth crime by the Garda Síochána Analysis Service. This examination took into account existing youth justice supports and identified the areas which have the most urgent need for additional crime reduction projects. My formal announcement of the locations selected will be made shortly, following the completion of some technical procedures linked to the Dormant Accounts Scheme.
