On behalf of my colleague Deputy Darren O'Rourke, I wish to ask about youth diversion programmes which offer huge benefits. They are aimed at preventing young people from becoming involved in the criminal justice system and at promoting positive development. These programmes can lead to reduced recidivism and can help young people to make a positive contribution to society. What plans does the Minister have to increase funding and expand youth diversion programmes in County Meath?

Sentiment score: 0.70

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. The question related to Meath, so I wanted to focus on youth diversion in the Ashbourne area. The area has seen a significant increase in population and I welcome the recent funds that were allocated from the community safety fund for Ashbourne. This is money that was seized by CAB and put back into communities to help them build resilience to crime. This is something my party campaigned for for a long time. The service in Ashbourne is helping approximately 30 young people and is in the process of moving into a new building that will then run a full youth service in Ashbourne. From speaking to my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, I know this is something that is very positive and welcomed by the community. Has the Minister got an update on the programme in Ashbourne? Does he know when the new youth facility will open? Will the Government look at a multi-annual funding model for these programmes so that they can strategically plan for the future?

Sentiment score: 0.21

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I want to touch on the community safety fund again. This is money from organised crime that was seized by CAB and is meant to be invested in the communities most impacted by crime. These communities are in need of resources to strengthen their resilience against criminal activity. It is no coincidence that the majority of money seized by CAB originates in areas of high disadvantage. It is crucial that these areas get the support they need. I have met several front-line services in my role as party spokesperson on youth justice and community safety and they have concerns about the criteria. Yesterday, for example, Deputy Carthy and I met the Inner City Organisations Network, ICON. It received community safety funding to conduct research into how organised criminals were trafficking young people into criminality. It applied for the second part of this funding to expand the research but was denied. Will there be a review into the community safety fund to ensure it is fit for purpose and agile enough to meet the challenges of emerging trends in the youth just area?

Sentiment score: 0.01

As the Minister said, the community safety partnerships were to be restructured to replace the JPCs. They were much promised by the Minister's predecessor, Deputy McEntee, and much lauded. It is very worrying to hear the Minister still has not signed off on these community safety partnerships. There is a vacuum. The JPC is vital in holding the Garda to account. Can the Minister enact this legislation? At the moment there are different approaches in different local authorities. Dublin City Council is continuing with the JPC structures but south Dublin has not had any JPC meeting since last May. I call on the Minister to act with urgency and sign off this legislation as soon as possible.

Sentiment score: 0.12