Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2016
126. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of juvenile offenders in each county; the programmes under her Department's remit in place in each county to combat juvenile offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31690/16]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to know that the Annual Reports of the Committee appointed to monitor the effectiveness of the statutory Diversion Programme provide an overview of youth crime in the particular year in question. As such, the reports include details of, inter alia, the number of incidents and individual children and young people referred to the Diversion Programme and the outcomes of such referrals, including a geographical breakdown by Garda region and division. In its 2014 Report the Committee reported that 9,991 children and young people were referred to the Diversion Programme. This compares with 10,420 children and young people referred in 2013 and continues the downward trend in the number of children and young people referred to the Programme in recent years. I understand that the Monitoring Committee's 2015 report is expected to be finalised shortly. The Diversion Programme operates in accordance with Part 4 of the Children Act 2001, as amended, and is under the general superintendence and control of the Garda Commissioner. The aim of the Diversion Programme, through the network of Juvenile Liaison Officers, is to deal with young people who offend, by way of administering a formal or informal caution, thus diverting the young offender away from the Courts and minimising the likelihood of further offending. The Programme has proven to be highly successful in diverting children and young people away from crime by offering guidance and support to them and their families. This is evident from the continuing fall in the number of children and young people being referred to the Programme in recent years. In support of the operation of the Diversion Programme, my Department through the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) funds and oversees the operation of the national network of Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) across the country. The national network comprises over 100 projects, six of which incorporate Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF) projects. As the Deputy may know, GYDPs are community based multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have become involved in criminal or anti-social behaviour. My Department, again through the Irish Youth Justice Service, also supports the work of the Probation Service through a network of community based Young Persons Probation Projects (YPPs). There are currently 18 YPPs developing and delivering services to young offenders in their communities. The management and monitoring of the YPP projects is undertaken directly by the Probation Service. These projects offer services to offenders who would otherwise not be in a position to avail of a mainstream service opportunity, thereby enhancing the work of the Probation Service in changing offending behaviour. Just under €17 million has been allocated in 2016 to support the operation of all of these community based projects. In addition, some €2.8 million additional funding has been made available in 2016 under the Dormant Accounts Scheme to further support the operation of these community based youth crime prevention projects. The ongoing investment by my Department in these projects is playing a significant part in the continuing fall in the number of children and young people involved in offending and anti-social behaviour in recent years.
