Youth justice budget rises by €14 million in four years

Ireland’s youth justice budget has climbed by €14 million in four years, reaching €43 million this year as attention focuses on the consequences of children becoming involved in crime.

Most children who commit an offence are diverted into community programmes rather than being detained. Ireland achieved nationwide coverage of its youth diversion service in June, with 92 Youth Diversion Projects and four Targeted Youth Diversion projects now operating across the country.

The programmes generally serve young people aged 12 to 17, although some work with children aged eight to 11. About 4,500 children took part in a youth diversion project in 2024, according to Dr Eoin O'Meara Daly, a University of Limerick research fellow in youth justice and former youth justice worker. He told RTÉ’s This Week that the goal is to keep young people out of the formal justice system as much as possible.

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you can't measure the crime that didn't happen.

The projects provide one-to-one support through community organisations. Chloe Timmons, a youth justice worker in Mayo, said their impact is difficult to quantify because “you can't measure the crime that didn't happen.” She added, “We divert young people, so you'll never hear about the kids that are diverted. We've already diverted them from crime.”

Timmons said some children work with the service for three or four months before moving on, while others need more intensive or long-term care. Her organisation, Youth Work Ireland North Connacht, runs four projects across Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim, serving between 80 and 100 children each year. Referrals typically come through garda services, although other services and children themselves can also make referrals.

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We divert young people, so you'll never hear about the kids that are diverted. We've already diverted them from crime.