Youth diversion projects to benefit from €5m funding boost

James Browne

Around €10 million from the dormant accounts fund has been allocated to Department of Justice projects and initiatives, including €5 million for youth and community justice services.

James Browne, minister of state at the Department of Justice, said: “Together with the additional €6.7m extra Exchequer funding I obtained in Budget 2022, this allows us to make a very substantial start to the implementation of the youth justice strategy.

“The additional funding will allow us to ensure the youth diversion project service is available throughout the State by end-2022 or early in 2023. It will also fund additional work in the areas of early intervention with children at risk, family support and outreach work with harder-to-engage young people in particular.

“This work is vital to help divert young people from crime and anti-social behaviour and to protect victims by reducing future offending.”

Commenting on the remaining €5 million, justice minister Helen McEntee said: “The funding we have been allocated will greatly assist us in the work we are doing to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, roll out our community safety partnerships, support victims of crime and support vulnerable young people.

“The allocation of €250,000 for the implementation of targeted crime prevention and harm-reduction recommendations contained in the Drogheda community safety and wellbeing scoping report will support, amongst others, The Red Door project for the provision of drugs outreach work, counselling, family support, client progression pathways, court-related and prisoner support and additional harm reduction services in the Drogheda area.”