Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister of State. We are on the same page on this one. In order for this to work, we have to resource our communities and put in place the proper resources in our communities to allow them to build resilience to crime, to build up youth diversion projects, as the Minister of State mentioned, and to build up addiction services. Some of the areas I represent are crying out for addiction services for those under 18 years of age, for example. Those are some of the things that can be put in place.

Many young people start using drugs before the age of 25, and at the moment taking a drug is a criminal offence. We all look forward to recommendations of the citizens' assembly on drug use that is ongoing. This youth diversion scheme, however, is not for hardened criminals; it is for young people who make mistakes. As the Minister of State indicated, it is to give people a second chance. It will make a big difference in people's lives and stop them going into that cynical cycle of going in and out of prison from a very early age. Anything that can be done should be done, and I would like to see that report published as soon as possible.

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