Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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152. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the future of the Garda youth diversion projects; her plans to conduct any reviews, reforms, restructuring or other changes to the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41841/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, statutory provision in relation to young offenders is set out in the Children Act 2001 (as amended). Part 4 of the Act makes provision for the operation of the Garda Diversion Programme under the general superintendence and control of the Garda Commissioner. The aim of the Diversion Programme is to deal with young people who offend, by way of administering a formal or informal caution, thus diverting the offender away from the courts and minimising the likelihood of further offending.

To support the operation of the Diversion Programme, my Department, through the Irish Youth Justice Service, funds some 106 Garda Youth Diversion Projects around the country. These projects are community based multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime/anti-social behaviour. In 2016, some €12m was allocated by the Irish Youth Justice Service to Garda Youth Diversion Projects and a number of other youth justice community based projects around the country. Similar monies will be expended in 2017. In addition, monies secured from the Dormant Accounts Fund supported the establishment of ten new projects in the period 2015/2016.

The Irish Youth Justice Service working closely with An Garda Síochána monitors the need for Garda Youth Diversion Projects on an ongoing basis. This is achieved in the main through the Garda Youth Diversion Projects annual planning and budget application process. The provision of youth crime statistical information by the Garda Síochána Analysis Service to all Garda Youth Diversion Projects is an integral part of the annual planning process undertaken by the projects. When completed, these plans provide details in relation to youth crime in the relevant catchment area, numbers of persons referred to the Diversion Programme and the programmes and interventions to be implemented in relation to young people admitted to the projects. These plans are assessed by the Irish Youth Justice Service and support it in its monitoring and oversight role in relation to the projects and with any decisions required to be taken in relation to reviewing or restructuring the provision of services in particular areas. The Annual Plans for 2017 are currently being assessed by the Irish Youth Justice Service.

Developments which could have implications in the future for the Garda Youth Diversion Projects include the report of the Review Group established by the Garda Commissioner to examine the operation of the statutory Diversion Programme, the recommendation of the Penal Policy Review Group that a diversion programme be established for offenders aged eighteen to twenty four years, and the Programme for Government commitment to support the expansion of Garda Youth Diversion Projects to that particular age cohort.

The operation of the Garda Youth Diversion Projects have undergone significant development in recent years with the introduction of revised annual planning and budget application and reporting processes. In addition, a comprehensive risk/needs assessment tool has been introduced. The tool is used in the projects to assess the risk of recidivism in young people and developing a case management plan on the basis of the specific risks and needs of the individual. This allows interventions to be tailored appropriately and lead to more positive outcomes for young people. In addition, a new Garda Youth Diversion Project service delivery model has been introduced in County Kerry which, following its evaluation, may give rise to similar models being introduced in other counties.

The operation of the Garda Youth Diversion Projects will continue to undergo development, all the time ensuring that they are located in the areas where the need is greatest having regard to both the quantity and profile of youth crime and its underlying circumstances. Such information will continue to inform decision making in relation to the reform or restructuring of projects and service delivery, or altering project catchment areas.