Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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1611. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Department funded youth division projects workers based in Limerick in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [20252/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Under 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. Youth Justice interventions are about recognising that many young people who stray from the proper path need support and direction to turn their lives around. We can make a lasting difference to the quality of life not just for young people, but for the entire community.

Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) work with young people at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour to divert them away from criminal behaviour and towards better life outcomes.

A top priority for my Department has been the expansion and deepening of the services offered to young people by the YDPs, which are funded by my Department and run by community-based organisations. On average, the YDPs engage with about 4,000 young people across the State in any one year.

In Budget 2025, €33 million has been allocated to Youth Justice Services. This will facilitate an increase in the availability of YDP services in the evenings and at the weekends when many young people need them the most.

It will also facilitate an increase in supports for families, interventions for typically hard-to-reach young people and early interventions for 8-11 year olds who may be at increased risk of becoming engaged in criminal activity.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, as of February 2025, a total of 33.75 Full Time Equivalent Youth Justice Workers were being employed on projects in Limerick, compared with a total of 30.6 Full Time Equivalent in September 2024.

I have included below a breakdown of mainstream/12-17, Early Intervention, Family Support, and Other (i.e. Senior Workers, Team Leaders, and Project coordinators) Youth Justice Workers employed across all these YDPs in 2025.