A number of new Garda projects to discourage disadvantaged young people from becoming involved in crime or antisocial behaviour have been launched by Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan.
The Garda youth diversion projects are operated by Garda stations around the State in order to prevent young people from coming to the attention of the criminal justice system.
Each station, in collaboration with community leaders, determines which projects would best suit the youth in their particular area and then applies to the Department of Justice for funding. Current projects include hairdressing courses, after school homework groups, sports groups and various educational and personal development courses.
Mr Lenihan yesterday approved the establishment of 12 new courses in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick cities and a number of towns around the State, bringing the total number of youth diversion projects to 93. Funding of €9.8 million has been allocated to the projects for 2007, an increase of almost 50 per cent on 2006.
The projects made an essential contribution not only to the lives of the young people involved but to the general community, Mr Lenihan said.
"If even one young person is diverted away form offending behaviour patterns, it prevents potentially dozens if not hundreds of potential crimes from being committed. The merit of these projects is therefore clear in that, combined, they reach hundreds of young people in Ireland and make valuable differences in the quality of life of many."
