The Government is committed to the principle that everyone, wherever they live in Ireland, should be safe and feel safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority in the Programme for Government. We want every part of country to be a safe space for people to live and work in, and to visit, and the Belmayne-Clongriffin area in Dublin is no exception to this.
Anti-social behaviour is a broad term often used to describe a range of actions and behaviours that violate social norms in specific contexts. I am conscious of the very damaging impact on the quality of life it can have in our communities.
The government are committed to tackling the scourge of anti-social behaviour and crime to build safer streets and stronger communities through a number of ongoing measures, including:
• The deployment of body-worn cameras for Gardaí in Dublin City Centre, Waterford, and Limerick in 2024, with nationwide roll-out to follow;
• The introduction of Local Community Safety Partnerships around the country, to develop tailored Community Safety Plans for every area;
• Continued expansion of youth justice and youth diversion measures;
• New laws which criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
• Providing the funding necessary to enhance the equipment available to An Garda Síochána for public order policing, including the deployment of tasers and stronger incapacitant spray;
• Proposing solutions to public order and anti-social “wicked problems” through the Local Leadership Programme which brings together local stakeholders in a structured manner.
A number of actions are contained in the Programme for Government to reduce instances of anti-social behaviour and help people to be safe and feel safe in their local communities, including a commitment to enact legislation to combat anti-social behaviour, including enhancing the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Warnings and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. Work to progress these commitments has commenced.
There is an ongoing investigation regarding a number of youths who were where recently arrested in relation to a series of assaults and public disorder incidents in the Belmayne, Clongriffin areas, including local train stations.
Local management have temporarily assigned Garda members to focus on recent increases in anti-social activity in the Darndale, Clongriffin and Belmayne areas. This unit will support the work of existing Community Policing Units. This unit has had a number of successes in recent weeks and are continuing to identify youths involved in anti-social behaviour in the areas with the intention of mitigating against such activity and bringing any offenders to justice.
Through the Programme for Government and the Youth Justice Strategy, I am committed to improving outcomes for young people at risk of a life of criminality through investment in youth justice services.
The Youth Justice Strategy 2021 – 2027 commits to expanding the network of Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs). YDPs are community based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour. On average the YDPs engage with between 3,500 and 4,000 young people across the State in any one year.
While the projects primarily receive referrals from An Garda Síochána, they may receive referrals from other sources including schools, parents or self-referrals, including in some cases working with young people who are not under Garda supervision, or have been deemed unsuitable for diversion.
A top priority is the expansion and deepening of the services offered to young people by the YDPs, which are fully funded by the Department of Justice. These projects provide an invaluable support to complement the work of An Garda Síochána in addressing youth crime and protect local communities.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff.
The Garda National Youth Diversion Bureau has responsibility for the selection, training, support and ongoing liaison with a network of Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLO) in every Garda Community Engagement Area. There are 121 JLOs based throughout the country who are tasked with supporting the Director in the administration, consideration as to suitability, caution, monitoring and implementation of the Diversion Programme. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
The statutory framework relating to young offenders (between the ages of 12 and 18 years of age) and inclusion in the Garda Youth Diversion Programme is set out in the Children Act 2001. The Act provides that where a young person under 18 years of age is responsible for committing a crime, the young person shall be considered for admission to the Youth Diversion Programme. In order for a young person to be admitted to the Programme, the child must take responsibility for their offending behaviour; agree to be cautioned by a Garda; and where appropriate agree to terms of supervision.
Funding for YDPs and other Youth Justice measures have increased substantially in recent years, from €18 million in 2020 to a total allocation of just over €36 million in Budget 2025. There are seven YDPs currently serving Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North, and the KEEP Youth Diversion Project is currently operating in Belmayne.
