Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 June 2017
156. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda youth diversion projects by county and-or divisional basis in each of the years 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30380/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, statutory provision in relation to young offenders is set out in the Children Act 2001 (as amended). Part 4 of the Act makes provision for the operation of the Garda Diversion Programme under the general superintendence and control of the Garda Commissioner. The aim of the Diversion Programme is to divert any child who accepts responsibility for his or her criminal or anti-social behaviour from committing further offences, or engaging in further anti-social behaviour, primarily by administering a caution to such a child and, where appropriate, by placing him or her under the supervision of a juvenile liaison officer.
To support the operation of the Diversion Programme, my Department, through the Irish Youth Justice Service, funds some 105 Garda Youth Diversion Projects around the country. These projects 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. In 2016, some €12m was allocated by the Irish Youth Justice Service to Garda Youth Diversion Projects and a number of other youth justice community based projects around the country. Similar monies will be expended in 2017. In addition, monies secured from the Dormant Accounts Fund supported the establishment of ten new projects in the period 2015/2016.
A table setting out the number of Garda Youth Diversion Projects by county in each of the years 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017 follows.
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Clare |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Cork |
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Dublin |
33 |
36 |
35 |
|
Galway |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Kildare |
2 |
4 |
4 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Laois |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
6 |
7 |
7 |
|
Longford |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Louth |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Meath |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
Waterford |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Total |
99 |
106 |
105 |
