Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Minister of State. I want to take a moment to recognise the incredible work being done through a youth diversion programme in Rathkeale in County Limerick, a programme that was relaunched by the Minister of State earlier this year and which is already making a real difference. Rathkeale is a town that has often been unfairly stereotyped. This programme is helping to build trust, opportunity and hope, and not only for the young people but for the entire community. Youth workers on the ground are doing vital work - building relationships, preventing antisocial behaviour and offering young people pathways from crime towards brighter futures. This is exactly what youth diversion is meant to do - support not punish, guide not judge - and in Rathkeale we are seeing how impactful that approach can be when it is community led, properly resourced and built on respect. Programmes such as this should not be an exception, however; they should be the norm. Therefore, I am asking the Minister of State to secure sustained funding for Rathkeale to allow this programme to deepen the impact but also for an expansion of youth diversion programmes across all major towns, villages and urban centres, particularly those that face social disadvantage.Every young person deserves a chance to be supported and every community deserves the safety and cohesion that youth diversion can bring. Let us back these programmes, back our youth workers and back our young people.