John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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514. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of youth diversion projects operating in County Galway; the staffing cohort associated with each project; the number of participants at each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65009/25]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to improving outcomes for young people at risk of a life of criminality through investment in evidence-based youth justice services.

Youth Diversion Projects (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. They provide an invaluable support to complement the work of An Garda Síochána in addressing youth crime and protecting local communities. I was very pleased to secure additional funding to underpin their nationwide coverage in Budget 2026.

I can advise that a total of 18 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Youth Justice Workers are currently employed in three YDPs in Galway. A breakdown is provided for each YDP in the table below. Also provided is the number of participants who engaged with each of the YDPs in Galway in 2024. Figures for 2025 will be available next year.