Francis Noel Duffy
Ceist:501. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice for a geographic breakdown of Garda diversion programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33915/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 11 July 2023
Ceisteanna (501, 509)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:509. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the youth diversion projects in place in counties Cavan and Monaghan at present; the proposals she has to approve additional projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34057/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 509 together.
Youth Diversion Project (YDPs) are community based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives, which seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime/anti-social behaviour and to support wider preventative work within the community and with families at risk. The YDPs act as a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme.
The objectives of the YDP are to:
• promote focused and effective interventions to challenge and divert young people from offending behaviour;
• utilise YDP resources in areas of greatest need and to establish effective crime prevention supports in co-operation with other youth service providers nationwide;
• actively promote crime prevention policy through focussed educational interventions influencing positive development of young people towards becoming responsible citizens.
Funding for these interventions is based on evidence that diverting young offenders from the criminal justice system, and preventative work with young people at risk, is to their long-term benefit and that of society as a whole.
Youth Diversion Projects are co-funded by the Irish Government and European Social Fund as part of the ESF+ Programme 2021-2027.
The Youth Justice Strategy 2021 - 2027 commits to the expansion of the Youth Diversion Projects and establishment of a small number of new Projects, so that every child or young person in the State who could benefit from this service can access it.
This includes the establishment of 4 new Projects, one of which will be located in Carrickmacross.
We are also exploring with other statutory bodies providing youth services to pilot a number of joint-commissioned Projects. This new type of YDP brings together services from across the public sector to enhance the service provided to young people and to ensure a 'no wrong door' approach. All of these are aimed at ensuring that programmes and interventions are as effectively designed and targeted as possible to support those children and young people (and their families) who experience particular disadvantage and are more at risk with respect to offending behaviour.
For the Deputy's information, the attached table shows the list of current YDPs nationwide.