Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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43. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the youth diversion programmes in place in County Louth. [54054/25]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, 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.

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 statutory Youth 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.

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.

Additional budget funding of €7.3 million has been allocated under Budget 2026 for YDPs.

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.

There are currently four YDPs in operation across Co. Louth: Boyne YDP, Cable YDP, High Voltage YDP and Team YDP. In 2024, these projects engaged a total of 289 young people, children and family members at risk of participating in or currently engaged in criminality who were most in need of their services.