Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1165. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if he will increase the funding available to the Youth Diversion Projects programme given the increase of criminal incidents involving people under the age of 18 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38325/23]
View answerFunding allocations for the Youth Diversion Projects is based on evidence that diverting young offenders from the criminal justice system, and preventative work with young people at risk, is to their long-term benefit and that of society as a whole.
The Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 provides a developmental framework to address key ongoing challenges, as well as new and emerging issues, in the youth justice area. The intention is to develop the Youth Diversion Project (YDP) network so that it is available to every child in the State who could benefit from it, through an ongoing expansion of existing services and the foundation of new projects where necessary.
The Deputy may wish to note that a further 4 YDPs are due to be established by the end of this year as part of the commitment to expand the service provision to every young person who needs it. Additionally 6 collaborative commissioning Diversion Projects are also due to be established in 2023. These Projects will draw relevant statutory bodies together with local partners to map our separate funding schemes against a local needs assessment, will identify gaps in priority services needed and will agree with local service providers how to meet these needs in a coordinated and integrated way.
Youth Diversion Projects are co-funded by the Irish Government and European Social Fund as part of the ESF+ Programme 2021-2027. Any future allocations to the YDPs will, as the Deputy can appreciate, form part of the usual Estimates process.
For the Deputy’s information, the table below outlines funding allocated to YDPs for the previous 10 years.
|
Year |
Allocation |
|
2023 |
€24.9m |
|
2022 |
€22.9m |
|
2021 |
€17.6m |
|
2020 |
€16.8m |
|
2019 |
€15.6m |
|
2018 |
€13.6m |
|
2017 |
€13.4m |
|
2016 |
€12.9m |
|
2015 |
€13.1m |
|
2014 |
€11.5m |
