James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 aims to reduce harm in communities (including harm to children and young people) by reducing the numbers of children and young people who engage, or are vulnerable to engagement, in crime and minimise their involvement with the Criminal Justice System by supporting their personal development.

My Department is actively implementing the Strategy, with a range of actions already underway, including the expansion of the Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) and establishment of a small number of new Projects, so that every child or young person in the State who could benefit from this service can access it.

We are also working with other statutory bodies to explore providing youth services to a number of pilot joint-commissioned Projects. This new type of YDP brings together services from across the public sector to enhance the service provided to young people and to ensure a 'no wrong door' approach. All of these are aimed at ensuring that programmes and interventions are as effectively designed and targeted as possible to support those children and young people (and their families) who experience particular disadvantage and are more at risk with respect to offending behaviour.

As the Deputy will be aware, community safety is not solely the responsibility of An Garda Síochána or the Department of Justice. It is a whole of Government responsibility. The Youth Justice Strategy recognises this in the context of young people's interaction with the justice system and aims to improve the outcomes for both the wider community, and young people at risk.

For the Deputy's information, An Garda Síochána runs a number of initiatives aimed at improving community safety and reducing assaults. These include:

• Crime Prevention Officers across the country who are available to offer safety advice and answer concerns from various members of the community, including young people, at community engagement events, such as the recent National Community Engagement Week.
• Operation Soteria - the national operation that has the aim of preventing assaults occurring, through targeted, timely patrols and engaging with community partners to promote personal safety. This initiative continues and has raised awareness of the consequences of assaults on victims, their families and convicted persons.
• 'Use Your Brain, Not Your Fists' - awareness raising campaign that aims to reduce the number of assaults carried out by males between 18 and 39 years of age. It appeals to young males to think of the consequences for themselves and others of being involved in assaults.
• Operation Limmat is the Dublin Metropolitan Region’s (DMR) assault in public and public order reduction strategy. Operation Limmat promotes a pro-arrest and early-investigation approach to incidents of assault, together with driving high-visibility policing in public places to act as a deterrent to prevent and reduce assaults and public order offences in the DMR.

The Garda Youth Diversion Bureau (GYDB) liaises with the Department of Justice and other Government Departments/State agencies to ensure Garda co-operation with the Youth Justice Strategy. The Strategy includes GYDB representation on the development of initiatives such as the Youth Joint Agency Response to Crime (Y-JARC).

Trends in offending behaviour are identified by use of the Garda Síochána Analysis Service, referrals to the Bureau and feedback from Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs). Working Groups involving JLOs and relevant members are then set up to address offending, consider preventions and interventions and to liaise with both internal and external stakeholders where appropriate.