Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
643. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda youth diversion projects in the Donegal division in each of the years 2009 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; the areas in which they are located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32609/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom 2009 to date the following Garda Youth Diversion Projects have been in operation in the Donegal Garda Division:
|
COUNTY |
PROJECT |
AREA |
|
DONEGAL |
FALCARRAGH |
FALCARRAGH |
|
|
LEAF |
RAPHOE |
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department undertook a consultation process with all GYDP stakeholders during the period March to May 2018. Following this process, and as already communicated to the network of projects, the Department is undertaking an action research project in partnership with the University of Limerick to inform the future development of the GYDP network, and to provide a process for us to work together in the development of GYDP services over the next few years and to make progress on the range of issues that emerged in the consultative process on the basis of negotiation and of evidence informed by research.
These issues include:
- the optimum geographical areas as catchment areas for individual GYDPs;
- liaison mechanisms for coordination between individual projects at division/city/county level;
- development of stronger networking and peer learning opportunities across the entire network of local projects;
- extension of the various mentoring initiatives to all GYDPs as core elements in the repertoire of interventions available, and development of new resource material and modules;
- most importantly, a planned approach to ensuring that the GYDP service is available to all children who could benefit, regardless of where they live in the State.
Within that overall approach to reform and development, the action research project will work with a small number of projects initially on:
- the quality of the relationship between the young person and the youth justice worker as the key factor in a successful intervention;
- estimating the contribution and maximising the impact of a GYDP in tackling crime in a locality; and
- designing an approach to coordination and early intervention by all agencies (statutory, voluntary and community) with family and child welfare roles so as to minimise the extent to which young people get involved in crime.
The focus in the action research project will be on documenting, learning by doing, and then sharing learning and best practice recommendations with other GYDPs in the network and with any new projects to be established in future. The intention is that there will be sufficient learning from the action research to apply the revised model to the establishment of GYDPs in new areas towards the end of next year. The Action research Programme will also be the context for further enhancement of training and support for Youth Justice Workers, ongoing development of practice standards, provision of new resource modules (e.g. empathy), extension of mentoring initiatives, embedding of restorative practices within the project network and extension of preventative and family support work by the projects.
