Briefing on the Irish Youth Justice Sub-Programme in the NDP
Very substantial funding of €367m has been allocated for Youth Justice in the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013.
This investment will enable the Irish Youth Justice Service to plan for the expansion and enhancement of measures to divert children from crime and a major programme of refurbishment and redevelopment of existing detention facilities for children.
The funding breaks down into three major areas: €104m for the implementation of a range of new community sanctions which will be operated by the Probation Service, €120m for the expansion of the Garda Youth Diversion Projects and the development of other programmes for children who offend and €143m for capital works including the redevelopment of the existing children detention schools.
The new community sanctions are aimed at reducing the number of children sentenced to detention by the courts and improving the outcomes for children in a range of areas including such matters as the rate of re-offending, educational attainment, family supports and substance abuse. The legislative basis for these new sanctions in the Children Act 2001 will be brought into force on 1 March 2007.
The funding for the Garda Youth Diversion Projects will allow for the expansion of the number of projects from 74 to 130 during the lifetime of the plan. This process had already commenced with the announcement of 10 new projects on 4 January last. It is planned to have 100 projects in place by the end of this year. In addition to this expansion process, a system of evaluation will be developed and implemented to measure the effectiveness of the diversion programme. The Minister for Children is confident that the expanded programme, given the commitment and dedication shown by the co-ordinators and volunteers who work on the existing projects, will prove to be an effective intervention for children at risk of offending.
The allocation for capital works will allow for the much needed redevelopment of the existing accommodation in the children detention schools at Oberstown, Lusk, Co. Dublin and Finglas. The process of planning for the redevelopment has already begun and it is due for completion within the lifetime of the Plan. The Minister has acknowledged that the existing accommodation is unsatisfactory and has stated that its redevelopment is a priority. While the overall redevelopment plan will take three to four years to complete, the funding provides for a programme of refurbishment of the existing accommodation in the interim.
