Skip to main content
Normal View

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Questions (325)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

325. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will reinstate Garda youth diversion project funding to a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13490/20]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy will appreciate, the statutory framework relating to young offenders and the Garda Diversion Programme is set out in the Children Act 2001. The nationwide network of Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) is supported by my Department.

GYDPs are community-based, multi-agency, crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people who have become involved in criminal or anti-social behaviour. The projects aim to support young people and bring about the conditions in which their behavioural patterns in relation to law and order can develop and mature through positive interventions and interaction.

My Department has a responsibility to ensure that an effective GYDP service is in place for young people who commit offences and for whom the Diversion Programme is considered suitable. This includes the need for local community-based GYDPs to provide intensive and effective interventions as well as activities suitable for young people with challenging behaviour and who need additional support. The Department is also committed to ensuring that additional services will be put in place for harder-to-engage young people, who have not previously been seen as suitable for GYDPs.

I can confirm that my Department no longer provides funding to the organisation referred to by the Deputy. This decision was taken after a long process of careful consideration and discussion, including with An Garda Síochána locally, and following a number of meetings with the organisation itself.

Revised arrangements funded by my Department are in place in the area to ensure that the GYDP service continue to be available. The replacement service providers are all GYDPs which had already been in operation locally and which have the necessary skills and expertise to ensure that the service is available to all young people in the area who could benefit from it.

I would also like to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to making sure that GYDP services continue and indeed are enhanced in the specific area referred to. My Department has doubled spending for GYDPs in the relevant area, with approximately €848,000 allocated this year compared to €426,000 last year.

Top
Share