Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the rationale for the Garda Youth Diversion Projects; if these projects operate in counties Longford and Westmeath; the way these projects are assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7012/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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My Department funds 100 Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) nationwide. They are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives, which seek to provide focussed and effective interventions to young people coming to the attention of An Garda Síochána who are at risk of or who have become involved in offending behaviour. They operate as a support to the Garda Diversion Programme and the network of Juvenile Liaison Officers across the country. The projects are particularly targeted at 12-17 year old "at risk" youths in communities where a specific need has been identified and where there is a risk of them remaining within the justice system. The projects also operate measures under the European Social Fund 2007 - 2013 part-funded Human Capital Investment Programme with the specific purpose of increasing the capacity of project participants to find employment.

Projects operate through a local project committee structure, chaired by the local District Officer. Projects are delivered under the terms of a Funding Agreement between my Department and the Community Based Organisation managing the projects. Projects are assessed on the basis of a planning, appraisal and reporting mechanism through the project committee and the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) and The Garda office for Children and Youth Affairs (GOCYA). While a report on the overall operation of GYDPs 2009 - 2011 is available on the IYJS website (www.iyjs.ie), details sought in relation to GYDPs in Co. Longford and Co. Westmeath are as follows: