James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour. Youth Diversion Projects are run by community-based organisations and are a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme.

A top priority is the expansion and deepening of the services offered to young people by the Youth Diversion Projects, which are fully funded by my Department. These projects provide an invaluable support to complement the work of An Garda Síochána in addressing youth crime and protect local communities.

In Budget 2023, a further €2.5 million in funding was allocated to youth justice services, increasing the total budget allocation for the YDPs and other youth justice projects to €30.24 million per annum. This funding will be deployed with the assistance of the best available research and expert evidence to keep young people away from crime. The cost of doubling such funding would therefore amount to €30.24m per annum.

The consultation on diverting young adults, aged 18-24, away from entry into the wider criminal justice system closed in January and my Department is currently considering the results with a view to developing proposals. I can inform the Deputy that the likely costs involved in a young adult diversion scheme will have to be quantified as an integral part of the development process.

I can also inform the Deputy that there is scope for cost savings to the exchequer arising from such a scheme through a reduction in the requirement for DPP, court and prison resources over the longer term. Until further analysis has been done on both the cost estimates and the anticipated scope for cost savings, it is not possible to provide an estimate at this time of the cost to extend eligibility to this cohort.