Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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647. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the operation and funding allocated by her Department to local Garda youth diversion projects as Ireland exits Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25901/21]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, 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. These projects are community based multi-agency crime prevention initiatives.

As an essential crime prevention and community safety service, GYDPs have continued in operation, with appropriate restrictions and social distancing measures in place, during Covid-19.  These operational restrictions are in line with the health advice and will be eased in line with the developing advice as restrictions are eased generally.

€18 million funding has been provided for 2021, with a further allocation of €3m specifically for the following related youth justice projects: the Greentown pilots, the Bail Supervision Scheme and the Research Evidence into Policy Programmes and Practice (REPPP).

There are currently 105 GYDPs nationally and the intention is to further develop this service so that it is available to every child in the State who could benefit from it, through an ongoing expansion of existing services and the foundation of new projects where necessary.