Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Michael D. Higgins for raising this issue on the Adjournment.

Garda youth diversion projects are a vital and integral part of our youth justice system and operate as community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives. They seek to divert young people from becoming involved, or further involved, in anti-social or criminal behaviour. The projects provide activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve the prospects of employment for the participants. Apart from the direct benefits to the participants, the projects also contribute to improving the quality of life within communities and enhancing the relationship between the Garda Síochána and local communities.

The projects are funded by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Their overall administration is the responsibility of the community relations section of the Garda Síochána. The individual projects are run by a number of service providers which directly employ the project co-ordinator and are responsible for programming, staffing and day-to-day operation of their project.

The projects are established by the Garda Síochána, following a process of consultation with local community interests and youth service providers, in response to local crime problems. They have the objective of giving local communities some degree of ownership of a solution to the problems facing their areas. The management committees, therefore, seek to represent the various interests involved, including the community. Participation in the projects is voluntary.

Guidelines for the operation of the projects deal with their establishment, their ongoing operation, setting up of management structures, administration procedures, financial controls and accountability mechanisms, and the monitoring and evaluation process and must be adhered to in all cases.

Since 1991 when they were first established, the number of projects has grown to 84, with the announcement of ten new projects on 4 January. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is committed to the development and expansion of the diversion programme and has set a target of 100 projects by the end of this year. A demonstration of the commitment of this Government to the diversion projects is the fact that the total amount of funding for them in 2007 is €9.8 million. This represents an increase of 48% over funding allocated to the projects in 2006. This funding is part of an overall funding of €120 million which has been secured under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 for the development and expansion of the diversion programme. This funding will allow for the expansion of the number of projects to 130 during the lifetime of the plan.

Alongside the expansion process, a system of evaluation will be developed and implemented by the youth justice service of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to measure the effectiveness of the programme. The remit of the service is the management and development of all services relating to young people who offend.

Turning to the specific issue that is the subject of the Deputy's request, it is important to outline some of the history of the project in question. The project was established on 14 May 2001. The voluntary organisation referred to by the Deputy agreed to become the employer of the project staff. As such, it was responsible for all issues regarding contract of employment, salary and supervisory management.

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