Figures for Garda youth diversion programme revealed

More than 300 children aged 11 or younger went through the Garda youth diversion programme last year.

It is aimed at keeping children out of the courts, and deals with problems through a system of cautions.

The annual report of the Irish Youth Justice Service shows that overall, the number of under-18's processed by the programme hit 5,480 last year.

That is up 23% on figures from 2008.