582. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the estimated first and full-year cost of doubling the funding for youth justice interventions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51439/26]

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, with a total allocation for youth justice measures of €43 million in 2026, inclusive of Exchequer and Dormant Accounts Funding.

There are currently 92 Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) and 4 Targeted YDPs operating across the country. The estimated full-year cost of a new YDP, comprised of all the elements provided for under the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 (12-17 intervention, Early Intervention, Family Support and Harder-to-Reach programmes) is €400,000.

The minimum core ‘package’ for a YDP now includes two Youth Justice Workers, together with what may be appropriate in the specific locality: a family support youth justice worker, an early intervention youth justice worker, an outreach youth justice worker to engage with harder-to-reach young people, and a team leader where the number of other staff requires such a post. The Department funds these posts based on the needs, size and population base of each YDP catchment area, and as feasible given the per annum budget allocation. Therefore, the actual cost of establishing new YDP projects varies from €200,000 to €400,000. There may also be additional start-up costs in the first year, which also vary based on the particular needs of each YDP.

The average annual cost of a Targeted YDP, which are projects that aim to address the needs of children who are hard to reach, engaged in serious and prolific offending, and may not be deemed suitable for engagement with a YDP, was €650,016 in 2026. Targeted YDPs require, on average, 51% more funding as compared to a standard YDP, due to their more intensive programmes and provision of wraparound supports.

Given the above variance in funding needs and the structure of each YDP it is not possible to determine the first-year and full-year costs of doubling the number of youth justice interventions however the doubling of the 2026 Youth Justice Intervention funding allocation would amount to approximately €86m.

Current funding allocated to YDPs enables the employment of dedicated Youth Justice Workers (currently 572 FTE posts, operating nationwide) who support children and young people engaged, or at risk of becoming engaged in the criminal justice system. Every young person in Ireland now has access to a youth diversion service, thereby ensuring the Garda National Youth Diversion Bureau can consider diversion, and connect with a Youth Diversion Project and specialist supports offered by these Projects, for all children who need these interventions across the State.