Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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278. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the complete breakdown of the number of young persons referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, by Garda district within the Dublin region for the past three years, in tabular form. [54513/25]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, it has not been possible to compile the information in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is available.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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279. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the complete breakdown of the number of young persons referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, by Garda district within the Cork region for the past three years, in tabular form. [54514/25]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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280. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the complete breakdown of the number of young persons referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, by Garda district within the Tipperary/Clare region for the past three years, in tabular form. [54515/25]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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281. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the complete breakdown of the number of young persons referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, by Garda district within the Limerick region for the past three years, in tabular form. [54516/25]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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282. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the complete breakdown of the number of young persons referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, by Garda district within the Galway region for the past three years, in tabular form. [54517/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 279, 280, 281 and 282 together.

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 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, when appropriate, agree to terms of supervision.

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 or antisocial behaviour and to support wider preventative work within the community and with families at risk.

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 2025. A significant allocation of €7.3 million in additional core exchequer funding for Youth Justice measures was announced as part of Budget 2026. This represents a more than 20% increase on 2025’s allocation and will enable the roll out of a comprehensive, nationwide network of YDPs covering every part of the State.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below provides a breakdown of young people referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme in the Cork region by Garda division, the Clare/Tipperary division, the Limerick division and the Galway division for the past three years:

Please note, the above data was downloaded from PULSE on 7 October 2025. It includes referrals with a date created between 2023 and to date in 2025.

The above data includes all referrals made to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme.