13% drop in reported youth crime
There has been a 13% drop in reported youth crime.
New figures show that 18,500 children were referred to a special programme designed to help young offenders.
The Garda Diversion Programme is designed to deal with under-18s who offend through a form of caution, in the hope of steering them away from the courts system.
The majority of cases involved an informal caution but nearly 3,000 children were deemed unsuitable for diversion and sent for prosecution.
The top three offences were relating to alcohol, theft and traffic - and all three were down on the 2008 figures
Children's Minister Barry Andrews welcomed the 13% drop in the number of incidents referred to the programme, but warned against complacency, adding that efforts to reduce and prevent youth crime must continue.