Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

967. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda youth diversion programmes in each CHO; the number of young persons by gender and age cautioned by the Garda and linked in with a youth diversion programme in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22673/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Part 4 of the Children Act 2001 (as amended) provides the statutory basis for the Garda Diversion Programme. The intention is to divert children and young people who have engaged in criminal or anti-social behaviour away from the Criminal Justice system and towards more positive life choices. Children who commit criminal offences are considered for admission to the Garda Diversion Programme, as provided in the Children Act 2001. Each such case is assessed and the Director of the Garda Diversion Programme (Garda Superintendent) decides if the case is suitable, or not, for inclusion.

The operation of the programme includes informal and formal Garda warnings, delivered in the presence of parents or guardians, as well as provision for supervision by a Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer. The scope of the Diversion programme is illustrated by 2017 figures, which show that 10,607 children were referred for consideration under the programme.

Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) are a fundamental support to the operation of the statutory Garda Diversion Programme and provide a vital ingredient in enhancing community policing partnerships. These projects are community based multi-agency crime prevention initiatives, which are funded directly by my Department. GYDPs seek to divert young people who have become involved, or are at risk of becoming involved, in crime/anti-social behaviour away from future involvement with the Criminal Justice System. They are primarily targeted at 12-17 year old young people in communities where a specific need for the service has been identified. On average the Garda Youth Diversion Projects engage with between 3,500 and 4,000 young people across the state in any one year.

While the projects primarily receive referrals from An Garda Síochána, they may receive referrals from other sources including schools, parents or self-referrals, including in some cases working with young people who are not under Garda supervision, or have been deemed unsuitable for diversion. Individual GYDPs also undertake early intervention preventative work and support for families. Therefore, as projects include a mixture of young people referred from An Garda Síochána and other sources, data on GYDPs participants is not directly comparable with data on those considered for admission to the Garda Diversion Programme.

The specific information breakdown requested, linking participation in GYDPs and referrals from An Garda Síochána (and based on CHO areas) is not available. However, I have asked the Garda authorities to provide information on cases considered for admission to the Garda Diversion Programme, and I will communicate further with the Deputy as soon as more details are available.

I have attached the location of each Garda Youth Diversion Project, based on Garda Districts, to be of assistance.

">Youth Diversion Programmes