Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he will make a commitment that projects working with young people involved in, or at risk of involvement, in criminal activity that receive State funding via the probation service will have their funding held at least at its current level next year. [35396/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am well aware of the importance of funding for these projects but I am currently not in a position to give an indication of the level of funding for next year until the 2011 Estimates process has been completed. It is important to point out that tackling youth crime is a key priority for this Government. The Government's policy on youth crime is set out in detail in the National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-2010. This strategy is underpinned by the principles of the Children Act 2001, as amended. The approach adopted by the Government involves the deployment of Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers and the use of measures such as the Garda Diversion Programme, Garda Youth Diversion Projects, Young Persons Probation Projects, community sanctions and the incremental process of warnings, good behaviour contracts and anti-social behaviour orders, all of which attempt to confront youth crime and related behaviours in an incremental way, with detention as a last resort.