More children involved in crime diversion programmes

COMMUNITY crime diversion programmes dealt with 1,000 more children last year than they did in 2008.

Some 5,480 children engaged with Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) in 2010, compared to 4,922 in 2009 and 4,457 in 2008, representing a jump of 23% in just two years.

The 2010 annual report of the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) said that 1,614 (29%) of those involved were girls, the same as in the previous year.

The projects are aimed at children as young as 10 who are involved in anti-social behaviour or criminality, or are at risk of doing so.

They offer structured programmes involving both state agencies — such as the garda and probation — and local groups — such as community and youth organisations.

Figures from the annual report show that 730 children (14% of the total) are aged 12 or less, while the bulk are aged between 14 and 17.

There are 100 GYDPs across the country and are operated by groups such as Youth Work Ireland, Foróige and Catholic Youth Care.

The annual report said that as part of a major review of these projects the IYJS selected five to take part in a “boot camp” type trial aimed at improving their success in reducing crime in their locality.

This initiative was spread to other projects this year.

The report said the Young Person’s Probation (YPP) section, which is part of the Probation Service, conducted 1,045 assessment reports in 2010, compared to 1,098 in 2009.

In addition, 910 young people were supervised on the orders of the courts in 2010, compared to 876 in the previous year.

Total funding for GYDPs and the YPP reduced by 6% to €17 million in 2010.

The IYJS, an executive arm of the Department of Justice, is also responsible for overseeing the development of new children’s detention facilities in Oberstown in north county Dublin, which has been delayed due to a lack of funding.

The report said that “significant progress” was made in 2010 in the development of site designs and technical specifications.

It said, subject to Government funding, phase one of the project will see the provision of 80 new detention places, including for children currently held in St Patrick’s Institution.