Youth Justice

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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.

The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) has responsibility for:

• leading and driving reform in the area of youth justice
• improving the delivery of youth justice services
• policies aimed at reducing youth offending

This challenge is met by focusing on diversion and rehabilitation involving greater use of community-based interventions and the promotion of initiatives to deal with young people who offend.

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, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. 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 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, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 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, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is also responsible for the child care aspects of the Children Act 2001.

Community projects include:

• a network of 100 Youth Diversion Projects which engage young people who have become involved in anti-social behaviour
• Young Persons Probation Projects located in key areas which work with young people who have come before the courts

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 for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.

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

These include:

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

The locations both for new projects and for the additional youth justice workers have been selected following a detailed examination by IYJS and An Garda Síochána of national youth crime and population statistics provided by the Garda Síochána Analysis Service. This examination took into account existing youth justice services and identified the areas which have the most urgent need for additional supports. A formal announcement of the locations selected will be made shortly.

For further information see:

• Youth Diversion Projects
• Community Programmes
• Childrens Detention Schools
• Youth Justice: Your questions answered
• Publications
• Related legislation
• Locations of Garda Youth Diversion Projects