53. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has had engagement with a group (details supplied) in Kilkenny in relation to its ambitions to expand its building after receiving planning permission just recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49855/26]

My Department will consider any submissions on the expansion of youth justice services received from community based organisations nationally. I know of the good work Ossary Youth Services undertake with the management of the Compass Youth Diversion Project (YDP) and I had the pleasure to visit them earlier this year with you.

I am very pleased that this Government has, in recent years, significantly increased the funding for youth justice initiatives. The budget allocation for Youth Justice measures has almost doubled from 2020 to 2026 and following a significant increase of €7.3 million in additional core exchequer funding as part of Budget 2026, the total allocation for youth justice measures is now €43 million.

I am advised that over €156,570 has been allocated to Compass Youth Diversion Project in Kilkenny in 2026. This provides for the recruitment of over 2 fulltime equivalent youth justice workers who I understand will engage with up to 35 young people this year.

The Government’s focus on diversion and early interventions is a keystone in the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027. The strategy emphasises early intervention, prevention, family support and community engagement. It is aimed at promoting positive behavioural change and targeting this behaviour so that we can break the cycle of offending by young people.

Part 4 of the Children Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme. The intention of this programme is to divert children, aged 12-17 years old, who have engaged in criminal or anti-social behaviour away from the Criminal Justice system and towards more positive pro-social behaviour and life choices.

Young people who are deemed suitable by the Director of the Garda Youth Diversion Programme are referred to local Youth Diversion Projects, where, in collaboration with a Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer, these Projects provide supports to children to address their behaviour, engage in positive self-development, and connect with their communities.

While there has been an approximate 25% increase in the population of 12-17 year olds over the past ten years, the number or children coming to the attention of the Garda National Youth Diversion Bureau has remained steady, pointing to an actual reduction in youth offending. Between 2012 and 2022, there has been a drop in total criminal incidents involving children of 35% and a reduction of 31% in the number of children in detention over the past ten years.

With official opening of POINT YDP on 18 June, Youth Diversion is available to all children and young people across the country.

There are currently 92 Youth Diversion Projects and 4 Targeted Youth Diversion Projects across the country that are funded by my Department. With these funds, these Projects employ dedicated Youth Justice workers who respond daily to the needs of young people across the country. Every young person in Ireland now has access to a youth diversion service.

The Department also funds specialised Youth Justice Workers and Programmes in Youth Diversion Projects catering to Early Intervention, Family Support and Harder-to-Reach, serious and prolific young offenders.

The Department, in collaboration with the Probation Service, also operates a number of initiatives distinctly designed to address serious and prolific youth offending for those who may be deemed unsuitable for diversion, these are: the Greentown Programme, the Bail Supervision Scheme and targeted interventions for children who are harder to reach in terms of addressing prolific and serious offending.