356. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to Cherry Orchard Equine Centre which has been informed that the funding for a dedicated scrambler initiative funding stream, which currently supports a full-time youth justice workers within the local youth diversionary programme, will cease at the end of this year; and if he will ensure funding is guaranteed for 2027s. [74992/26]

The Government's Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 emphasises early intervention, prevention, family support and community engagement. It targets behavioural change so the cycle of offending by young people is broken.

Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community-based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour away from the criminal justice system. There are currently 92 YDPs and 4 Targeted Youth Diversion Projects in operation nationwide.

These projects provide young people between the ages of 12 and 17 years with suitable activities to facilitate their personal development, promote civic responsibility, encourage pro-social behaviour in their communities and improve their educational outcomes and long-term employability prospects.

Cherry Orchard Equine Centre are the parent Community-Based Organisation who administer the Cherry Orchard Developing Youth (CODY), Diversion Project. CODY were allocated €587,892 in 2026 and this funding provides for eight full-time youth justice worker positions. Funding for Youth Diversion Projects in 2027 will be allocated through the normal budgetary processes.

The budgetary allocation for youth justice measures has almost doubled between 2020 to 2026 and with an additional €11.5 million of core exchequer funding allocated for youth justice initiatives in Budget 2027, the total funding available will be almost €50 million.

Diversion is the Government’s priority response to addressing and preventing youth offending because diversion works. There has been an estimated 20% reduction in youth offences referred to An Garda Síochána between 2020 and 2025; with this decrease taking place during a period of population growth in the 12-17 cohort. Youth Diversion Projects work with more than 4,500 young people each year, meaning there are thousands of young people diverted from criminal pathways, which then leads to fewer victims and ultimately safer communities.