Youth Justice

Following Departmental realignment after Government formation in 2020, the Department of Justice has full responsibility for Youth Justice Issues in the community. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) retains responsibility for youth detention and the operation of the Oberstown Child Detention Campus.

Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027

The Department of Justice is focused on implementing the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027. The Strategy operates within the National Policy Framework for Children and Young Adults, “Better Outcomes Brighter Futures-”, which is coordinated by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The development of the Strategy has included consideration of previous national strategies and developments under the previous Youth Justice Action Plan (2014-2018).

The Minister for Justice’s responsibility

The Minister for Justice has responsibility for youth crime policy and legislation, including crime prevention/reduction/detection, criminal proceedings, diversion and diversion projects, community sanctions and Probation community projects.

The Minister also has responsibility for dealings with An Garda Síochána and the Probation Service on youth crime issues as well as responsibility via the Irish Prison Service for the small number of remaining children in adult prison facilities.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs responsibility

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is responsible for the Oberstown Children Detention Campus Located in Lusk, Co. Dublin which provides detention places to the Courts for girls and boys up to the age of 18 years ordered to be remanded or committed on criminal charges. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is also responsible for the child care aspects of the Children Act 2001.

Community projects include:

a network of 105 Garda Youth Diversion Projects which engage young people who have become involved in anti-social behaviour and,
Young Persons Probation Projects located in key areas which work with young people who have come before the courts.

Funding

Garda Youth Diversion Projects and a number of Young Persons Probation Projects are co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF+ Programme 2021-2027.

Funding is also provided under the Dormant Accounts Disbursement Scheme to expand community led interventions delivered by Community Programmes.

These include:-:

the establishment of additional Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) in high priority locations around the country,
the employment of additional youth justice workers for existing GYDPs in areas with high levels of youth crime,
the role-out of mentoring supports for GYDP participants and to assist Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers operating in areas without access to a GYDP.