Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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510. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider additional investment in the Heron youth diversion project in Carrigaline; and if she will consider the project for a building of its own, given the large number of young people in Carrigaline. [35636/22]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based projects that offer vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme. There are currently 105 YDPs across the State.

The Projects are funded through my Department, however as the Deputy may appreciate, the funding needs of individual YDPs differ based on a range of criteria, such as the geographical area in which the Project operates, the number of referrals to the YDP and the number of the 'hard to reach' cohort of these referrals, amongst others.  

My Department offers funding appropriate to the needs of each YDP and as determined by a standard budgetary process. Funding fluctuates based upon the YDPs' determination of their needs against the available budget for Youth Justice services annually. 

Budget 2022 provides an additional €6.7 million in funding for Youth Justice services. I announced on 22 June that over 50 YDPs will benefit from this additional funding to:

- extend the boundaries of some YDPs to increase coverage, as provided for in the Youth Justice Strategy,

- increase funding to engage with the harder to reach cohort of referrals,

- provide additional early intervention supports,

- provide family supports to the relatives of those young people engaged with the YDPs,

- further develop the Solas initiative in Dublin.

Of this €6.7million, approximately €780,000 has also been set aside to establish a limited number of additional YDPs this year in georgaphical areas not already covered, to ensure that the service is available to every child or young person in the State who would benefit from it. 

The successful projects, and the reasons for allocations, are available on my Department's website at the following link: justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/minister-of-state-browne-announces-funding-allocations-for-youth-diversion-projects-for-2022.

I should also point out that those projects whose applications were not successful in this round have been informed that their applications are on file and will be kept under review in the context of overall Youth Justice expenditure trends.