Closing Seanad Statement on Diverting Young People from Crime - Minister of State Niall Collins

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I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to have this debate and I thank the Senators for their contributions

It is very clear from the contributions that this issue is one of great importance to the members of this House.

I think all would agree that we must continue to provide opportunities for young people to contribute to society in a productive and meaningful way. We all have that shared interest.

I think it’s also clear from the contributions that this can’t be achieved by one department or agency working in isolation.

It must come through a whole-of-government approach.

My department for example is working with colleagues in all other relevant departments and agencies at national and local levels in six potential pilot areas to implement the ‘no wrong door’ principle.

The idea is that we will map the availability of current services in each of these areas, map the target group of young people in the area, identify the gaps in necessary services and bring all relevant statutory and voluntary services together to provide a joint response to the needs and challenges of families in the area.

Serious Offences

I’ve spoken at length about the benefits of youth diversion, but I want to re-iterate to members that diversion is not about young people avoiding punishment or consequences.

The Children’s Act requires that all child offenders be considered for diversion, with prosecution only for serious offences or prolific reoffending.

The most serious offences are subject to a formal criminal investigation and are referred to the DPP, but it is important that each child is assessed, and each case is considered on the merits.

As I’ve said the Youth Justice Strategy is now reaching its mid-way point. The operation of the Garda Youth Diversion Programme is kept under review by An Garda Síochána and by my department.

This included examination, during the development of the current Youth Justice Strategy, of all recommendations on youth justice issues that had been raised in previous reports or in discussion with stakeholders.

Restorative Justice

It’s important too of course that the victim’s voice is heard.

We know that, where children are the offenders, very often what the victim wants is to be heard, to hear remorse and to be assured that it won’t happen again.

Restorative Justice is embedded in the work of JLOs and Youth Diversion Project staff.

The Children’s Act provides for the presence of a victim at a formal caution, where the young person accepts responsibility for their offending behaviour.

Where An Garda Síochána directs that a restorative caution be administered, it is an opportunity for a child's behaviour to be addressed in a way that holds the child accountable, while ensuring that the victim experiences validation and recognition for the harm.

By validating the victim's experience and by reintegrating the child back into their community, restorative justice is associated with more positive outcomes for the victim and better outcomes for the offender with a lower risk of reoffending.

The restorative caution was utilised in almost 300 referrals to the youth diversion programme by An Garda Síochána in 2024.

Community Policing

I know everyone in this house values the role of An Garda Síochána in positively influencing the lives of young people, particularly our Community Gardaí.

Community Gardaí do incredible work across the country, engaging meaningfully with young people to develop and foster positive relationships and promote personal and community safety.

Whether it’s running late night soccer leagues for young people in Dublin’s inner city, visiting local schools or just being a visible and approachable figure in the community, their impact is immeasurable.

I also want to commend the work of our Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers, who are present in every Garda division across the country and have a central role working with young people through the Youth Diversion Programme.

Community Safety

Youth diversion not only helps the young person, but it also helps make our communities safer by reducing the types of offending that can make people feel unsafe.

More broadly, the government is introducing a new approach to help communities put solutions in place to deal with their own specific safety concerns.

Minister O’Callaghan has recently commenced the landmark Policing, Security and Community Safety Act.

This act will provide for the establishment of Local Community Safety Partnerships across the country.

The partnerships will bring together local stakeholders with government agencies and An Garda Síochána to create a community safety plan tailored to their needs.

The Plans will assign ownership to the appropriate State body to address each concern, whether that is additional street cleaning or better public lighting by the local authority, or increased Garda engagement in a particular area.

Nobody understands the needs of a community better than the community themselves.

These partnerships will complement the work of YDPs, providing accessible services that young people want to engage with.

The Act also provides for a National Office for Community Safety. A function of this Office is to provide training, guidance and support to the Partnerships.

In preparation for the establishment of the National Office a number of staff, including a Director Designate, have been appointed.

These staff are engaging directly with local authorities and other stakeholders to support the establishment of the Partnerships.

These tailored approaches to community safety will address the specific needs of our young people, ensuring that no one is left behind.

By doing so, we strengthen the fabric of our society and create a more inclusive environment where every young person has the chance to thrive.

The Community Safety Fund, which is run by my department, also plays a central role in supporting our communities.

This fund was established in 2021 to re-invest the moneys seized as the proceeds of crime into new, innovative community safety projects, number of which are focused on youth justice and supporting young people in the community.

It highlights the great work being done by both An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau in identifying and seizing these ill-gotten gains.

And it puts that money back into local communities, for the benefit and support of those who need it most.

We have seen the incredible work that is being done by people up and down the country to improve the lives of our young people.

It is a reflection that when it comes to our young people it truly does take a village.

Closing

Finally, let me say again I believe every young person deserves the opportunity to improve their quality of life.

They deserve to have choices and to be enabled to make better life decisions for themselves.

However, we cannot afford to get complacent. Too many children with complex backgrounds and needs still come to Garda attention.

We must continue to focus on working with children who are already involved in crime and anti-social behaviour or at risk of being groomed by criminal crimes to pull them back and give them a better pathway in life.