Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Our young people are our greatest resource. We need to start by acknowledging that. We also need to support and invest in them. I acknowledge the great work done by the youth services in my area in Fingal east, including Crosscare, Youthreach, the north Fingal youth diversion programme and all the local clubs that work with our young people. Diverting young people from criminal activity must be based on international best practice and in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ensuring young people’s legal rights and safeguards are fully respected. Projects must be community-based, multi-agency initiatives that seek to divert young people who have been involved in antisocial or criminal behaviour or those identified as being at risk of slipping into the criminal justice system. Programmes must be adequately resourced to provide suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve long-term employment prospects. These projects contribute to improving the quality of life within communities and enhancing relations between gardaí and communities.

While gardaí play an important role, it should not be left to them alone. We also need to look urgently at an education programme for youths on the implications, damage and consequences of carrying knives. This is a huge problem. The work of protecting our children from crime is multifaceted. It involves early intervention and preventative work, diversion from crime, improving education attainment, reducing substance misuse and improving use of leisure and recreational time. Positive outcomes in these areas of young persons’ lives are proven to lead to a reduction in their likelihood of offending or reoffending.

Consecutive Governments have wasted opportunities to invest in our young people. Following the most recent budget, the National Youth Council of Ireland said, "NYCI called for a budget to renew the social contract with young people, but this hasn’t been delivered, and young people at the margins have been overlooked." This is a shocking indictment of a Government that applauds itself for record budget surpluses. Once again, those at risk and the vulnerable, especially our younger people, do not benefit from the wealth of this nation.

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