Our Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 is a whole-of-government plan that takes a strategic approach to all issues connected to children and young people at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system. The key principles of the strategy are linked to the standards endorsed by the international community to uphold children's rights and include early intervention and preventative work, family support, diversion from crime, court processes and facilities, supervision of offenders, detention and reintegration, and support post release. Youth diversion projects are community-based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in antisocial and-or criminal behaviour. When a young person's time with a youth diversion project is coming to an end, whether they age out naturally at 18 or are no longer in need of specific youth diversion project supports, a plan is put in place to assist the young person to progress from the project. This process should be commenced well in advance of a person's planned disengagement. For all participants exiting a project, the youth diversion projects should identify other services that could engage the young person; identify specific agency support that may be needed by the young person; make contact with that service provider on behalf of the young person; prepare the young person for leaving the project; and follow up periodically on the progression of the young person after leaving the project and record any relevant details sent annually to the Department for reporting purposes. The diversion programme has proved to be very successful in diverting young people under 18 away from crime by offering guidance and support to them and their families. It is important that we consider the supports and interventions needed for young people as they move into adulthood because personal circumstances do not just change overnight when someone turns 18.

Sentiment score: 0.20

I am grateful for the Deputy's insight and his sharing his experiences. If he has any suggestions, we will absolutely take them on board because we are always open to taking on board new and positive suggestions as regards updating or amending our strategy in this regard. I commented on our youth diversion projects but I want to comment on our plans to extend youth diversion programmes to people once they pass the age of 18. Our strategy includes actions to develop diversion-based responses for young adults aged 18 to 24. It should be noted that we are not seeking to replicate the statutory Garda youth diversion programme for the 18-to-24-year-old cohort because different considerations apply in the case of young adults, as the Deputy will be aware. Research tells us that young adults, not unlike adolescents, can be particularly vulnerable to peer pressure and difficult personal, social or economic factors, including substance misuse and the impact of childhood trauma.

Sentiment score: 0.13

I thank the Deputy for that. He has a particular interest as regards Cork. We have seen an increase in funding since 2022 and, specifically, an overall increase in funding for the Cork youth diversion projects in the order of €1.8 million. I have here a statement in tabular format detailing the increase in funding which I will have our officials forward on to the Deputy afterwards. He is right, and that increase in funding should and does alleviate the types of issues he has raised in terms of numeracy and literacy.

Sentiment score: 0.40

The programme for Government commits to creating a transport security force. While this is a priority, responsibility for its establishment lies with the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority. On 18 June, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, met with the Minister for Transport to discuss the proposed transport security force. The Department of Transport is developing the necessary legislative proposals but the model remains under consideration and the process is at an early stage. New legislation is required, which takes time to develop and implement. I assure the Deputy that ensuring the safety of public transport passengers and staff remains a key priority while this work is ongoing. Antisocial behaviour affects many areas, including public transport. Responsibility for safety primarily rests with public transport companies, working closely with An Garda Síochána where appropriate. An Garda Síochána has tools to respond to antisocial behaviour on public transport. Garda management works closely with operators such as the NTA, Irish Rail, including DART and InterCity, and Transdev Ireland, which operates the Luas, thereby maintaining a high-visibility and co-ordinated policing presence. An Garda Síochána is actively working to address issues on public transport, including through dedicated operations such as Operation Twin Tracks and Operation Saul. A range of regional and local operations have been put in place by gardaí to prevent and detect criminal activity on public transport. The aim of Operation Saul, for example, is to provide a safe environment for commuters utilising all public transport services in the Dublin metropolitan region. This operation can reassure citizens, visitors and the business community that Dublin is a safe place in which to visit, socialise and conduct business. In 2024, 683 arrests and 1,339 charges or summonses were effected under this operation.

Sentiment score: 0.16

The Deputy is right that this is at the early stages and is in development. It is a priority, as I have outlined. The new transport force will have to interact with An Garda Síochána and that will be an operational issue for both organisations. It is primarily a matter for the parties involved to work out how they will operate the new system once the new transport security force is put in place. The aim of all concerned is to improve the security of the public who are using public transport. I know that An Garda Síochána will continue to play its part in that regard.

Sentiment score: 0.27

We discussed at length earlier the whole issue of Garda recruitment. As the Deputy knows, it is a significant priority in the programme for Government to increase Garda recruitment by about 5,000 over the lifetime of this Government. We have made a very good and resounding start. Last month, in June, another 170 trainees entered Templemore, following on from 201 in March, the largest intake since 2019. Some 120 new gardaí were attested in June and 74 of those were assigned to the Dublin metropolitan region, which is the vast majority of those who were attested. How the Commissioner allocates gardaí who are exiting Templemore following their attestation is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner and something we do not get involved in. The allocation of recruits from Templemore regularly gets raised with me regarding my own area of Limerick. It is challenging but it is something we are working to increase.

Sentiment score: 0.19