Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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1205. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plan to expand the youth diversion programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12551/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Through the Programme for Government and the Youth Justice Strategy, I am committed to improving outcomes for young people at risk of a life of criminality through investment in youth justice services.

The Garda Youth Diversion Programme is provided for in the Children's Act 2001. The Diversion Programme is supported by a network of Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs). YDPs are community-based multi-agency crime prevention initiatives, which seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime/anti-social behaviour and to support wider preventative work within the community and with families at risk.

YDPs aim to bring about the conditions whereby the behavioural patterns of young people towards law and order can develop and mature through positive interventions and interaction with the project. They are primarily targeted at 12-17 year old “at risk” youths in communities where a specific need has been identified and where there is a risk of them remaining within the justice system.

Funding for YDPs and other Youth Justice measures have increased substantially in recent years, from €18 million in 2020 to a total allocation of just over €36 million in Budget 2025.

Two new successful YDP applications have been chosen in East Clare and North Tipperary. Following an open application and appraisal process, Foróige have been chosen to operate both projects.

These two projects will ensure we have nationwide YDP coverage once they are up and running, so that any child who needs access to their service can get it, no matter what part of the country they are in.