James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based organisations that work with young people at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour in an effort to divert them from criminal behaviour towards better life outcomes. They are a key support to An Garda Síochána in the operation of the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme under the Children's Act 2001.

Having visited many Youth Diversion Projects across the country during my time as Minister of State, I have seen first-hand the positive impact they have on both the young people they work with and their wider communities.

YDPs engage with young people under Juvenile Liaison Officer supervision, or who have been referred by other agencies, for example Tusla. The YDPs provide a range of supports, including education, training and employment support, social enterprise initiatives, as well as personal development supports such as mentoring.

There are currently 105 YDPs in operation and the intention (under the Government’s Youth Justice Strategy) is to provide full geographic availability of youth diversion services throughout the State by the end of 2023.

To that end, I secured almost €780,000 in funding from Budget 2022 to expand the YDP network. I was pleased to invite proposals this week from community and youth service organisations to establish new Youth Diversion Projects in South Monaghan, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, South and East Co. Wicklow and West Cork.

I was also delighted to have secured an additional €2.5 million in Budget 2023, to a total of €30.5 million, to implement the Youth Justice Strategy – this will help us expand these important services to everyone who needs them to create better outcomes for young people.

Expressions of interest in principle from community-based organisations in establishing new YDPs in any of these areas should be submitted to yjs@justice.ie by 12 January 2023, having regard to the operational requirements as set out at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/1a1cd-youth-diversion-projects/.