Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy. Regrettably, she is right. Unfortunately, younger children are getting involved in crime. Forcing a child to get involved in criminal activity at a very young age is, in itself, a form of child abuse. The Deputy is talking about funding community projects that will try to deter people from getting involved in criminal activity at a young age. Lots of excellent work is being done by sports clubs around the country. Boxing clubs and football clubs are doing excellent work and the sports capital grants are of assistance in respect of that. I know the Probation Service comes into play after the event happens, but it plays a huge role in the diversion programme. Youth diversion programmes are very important. If a kid gets involved in criminality at a young age, we have to make a big effort to get them off that path as early as possible. If they stay on that path until the age of 18, the likelihood is that they will go to prison. We do not hear much about it but there is very good work being done by the Probation Service and by youth diversion projects. I have been to Churchfield in Cork, Tuam, Ballinasloe, Killarney and Limerick and I have seen excellent work being done around youth diversion projects. I hear what the Deputy is saying. We have a responsibility to put the supports and services in place so that, hopefully, young people do not get attracted to a life of crime. Once they get to the age of 35, most people do not engage in criminal activity because they realise it is a waste.