Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If we are going to have a debate about the diversion of young people from criminal activity, then we have to look at the whole picture of youth work and youth services. It is an entirely lopsided system if youth services only kick in for the vast majority of young people when something goes wrong and criminal behaviour is involved, especially when it has been well established that youth work is an effective form of prevention and early intervention, as well as a means of cultivating a multitude of positive outcomes for young people. Unfortunately, a lopsided system has been allowed to emerge. As well as investment in justice-driven youth investment projects, we need wholesale investment in universal youth services, including capital works.

As to why, let us look at the numbers. Figures for the years 2019 to 2023 show funding for our 23 Dublin Garda youth diversion projects increased by a massive 143%, but the number of participants only increased by 11%. Funding stood at €5.18 million in 2019 and increased to €12.6 million in 2023, but the number of participants increased from 1,092 to just 1,212. These are figures that I received from the Department of Justice last year, and I have asked for 2024 figures. Questions must, therefore, be asked about value for money where there is spiralling funding but a diminishing return. Youth diversion is work intensive, requiring direct engagement with participants to make it a success. That goes some way to explaining the imbalance, but a factor that cannot be overlooked is the feedback from youth workers on the ground in the greater Blanchardstown area when they say they have never felt more under pressure. I believe this is because they are propping up the entire youth services system when they should be concentrating on targeted youth services.

Persistent low-level crimes is becoming a major issue on suburban Dublin communities. This does not just include youth crime. This includes theft, open drug dealing, antisocial behaviour, increased knife crime and the threat and consequences of involvement in gangland crime as well as a corresponding perceived lack of consequences for youth offenders. Communities want this low-level crime to be tackled before it becomes normalised. As policymakers, we must ensure the public have confidence in our youth diversion strategy because it does work.

I believe some issues need to be addressed. For the third time since I have become a Teachta Dála, I am raising the Garda numbers in the K district versus other districts in the Dublin metropolitan region. The difference could be as high as one garda for every 531 people in the K district versus one garda for 397 people in a neighbouring district.

That district also has 40% lower crime statistics than the K district. Out of the 150 new recruits in March, only four went to the K district. The district is potentially the busiest policing district in the country and it cannot afford to continue to lose out to the city centre and other areas.

In 2023, The Wheel found overall investment in our youth work sector was down 16% compared to 2008 , with a shortfall of 15 million. Since 2008, however, our needs and population have exploded. We require a major step change in youth policy far beyond targeted youth services and diversion programmes. We need after-school facilities and youth clubs which should be opened in every community, supporting children, young people and families. This is achievable. We need our youth workers and volunteers from organisations like Foróige and YMCA to do what they do best, as well as interventions where they are required and where there already is an ecosystem and community of services.

We need local community safety partnerships up and running, bringing together the local stakeholders, such as youth workers, juvenile liaison officers, the HSE, community groups, residents and businesses so that we may have local community safety strategies for the community by the community, including our youth.

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