Mr. Drew Harris:

This is over a seven-year period. That is a large number but it can be broken down into the various years. In effect, the 103,000 referrals are the ones we have worked with and tried to divert. The 55,000 juveniles have either been in the programme or, in a smaller number of cases, the offence was so serious that they were deemed not suitable for the referral programme and, therefore, it was our job to report the matter for prosecution. We engage with many youth programmes through community policing and through the various services we provide. However, a lot of the heavy interaction in terms of the time and resources required probably sits better with agencies other than An Garda Síochána. We can certainly have an input and we can direct individuals towards that, in particular those who are engaged in behaviour which is self-destructive in terms of recidivism. We do a lot of that through the juvenile diversion programme. However, that intervention cannot just be about An Garda Síochána.

We must fulfil a role with other State agencies and players in supporting young people. The intervention the Deputy mentioned is resource intensive and not delivered entirely by An Garda Síochána. While we seek to support it, it could not be ours alone.