John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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890. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the powers available to An Garda Síochána to deal with underage/juvenile crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48424/25]

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

The Youth Justice Strategy 2021 – 2027 commits to expanding the network of Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs). 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. On average the YDPs engage with between 3,500 and 4,000 young people across the State in any one year.

While the projects primarily receive referrals from An Garda Síochána, they may receive referrals from other sources including schools, parents or self-referrals, including in some cases working with young people who are not under Garda supervision, or have been deemed unsuitable for diversion.

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

A top priority is the expansion and deepening of the services offered to young people by the YDPs, which are fully funded by my Department and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). These projects provide an invaluable support to complement the work of An Garda Síochána in addressing youth crime and protecting local communities.

The Garda National Youth Diversion Bureau has responsibility for the selection, training, support and ongoing liaison with a network of Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLO) in every Garda Community Engagement Area. There are 115 JLOs based throughout the country, as of the end of July 2025, who are tasked with supporting the Director in the administration, consideration as to suitability, caution, monitoring and implementation of the Diversion Programme.

The statutory framework relating to young offenders (between the ages of 12 and 18 years of age) and inclusion in the Garda Youth Diversion Programme is set out in the Children Act 2001. The Act provides that where a young person under 18 years of age is responsible for committing a crime, the young person shall be considered for admission to the Youth Diversion Programme. In order for a young person to be admitted to the Programme, the child must take responsibility for their offending behaviour; agree to be cautioned by a Garda; and where appropriate agree to terms of supervision.

All cases involving young offenders are taken very seriously by An Garda Síochána and only when the aforementioned conditions are met may a child avail of diversion. In serious cases the child’s case will be sent forward to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for consideration of prosecution.