Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)
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247. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide the plans for increasing funding allocations for youth services for Ringsend/Sandymount area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56007/25]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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An increase of €7.3m will be provided in 2026 for Youth Justice funding. This enables us to achieve comprehensive nationwide coverage of our network of Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) for the first time, which was committed to in the Youth Justice Strategy 2021 – 2027.

Allocations to individual YDPs are still being considered in light of their 2026 annual plan submissions for funding. The Dublin City South YDP project is the relevant service in the Ringsend/Sandymount area. Last year they received €728,806 in funding for pay and non-pay operational costs. They have been funded for a staff of 10 Youth Justice Workers.

These projects provide an invaluable support to complement the work of An Garda Síochána in addressing youth crime and protecting local communities.

Youth Diversion Projects (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.