State-funded liberal social justice NGO Foróige has been selected to operate two new Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) in East Clare and North Tipperary, the Department of Justice has announced.
Notably, between 2020 and 2022, Foróige received a total of €15.7 million in taxpayer money from the Department of Justice alone. The organisation also also draws funding from An Garda Síochana, the European Union, the HSE, the Education and Training Board, the Department of Equality, Tusla, Pobal, the National Lottery, and more.
STATE-FUNDED LIBERAL NGO
The group has campaigned on a number of progressive social issues, such as in 2023 calling for the removal of the term “biological sex” from Ireland’s sex education curriculum, arguing that it was a term that was offensive to transgender individuals.
Notably, even before this latest announcement, Foróige operated over 30% of the Youth Diversion Programmes in Ireland.
“The Strategy takes a rights-based approach to working with young people at risk, and is underpinned by a ‘no wrong door’ principle outlining a commitment to child centred wrap around services,” the group says on their website.
The Youth Diversion Projects being set up aim to prevent at-risk young people from engaging in crime and anti-social behaviour under the Government’s Youth Justice Strategy. They are primarily aimed at children aged 12 to 17 who commit crimes.
JUSTICE MINISTER “COMMITTED” TO PREVENTING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM TURNING TO A LIFE OF CRIME
The decision follows an open application and appraisal process, with the government highlighting the importance of early intervention in steering young people away from criminality.
Speaking about the initiative, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan emphasised his support for rehabilitation rather than punishment for young offenders.
“Youth Justice interventions are about recognising that many young people who stray from the proper path simply need support and direction to turn their lives around,” O’Callaghan said.
“I am committed to ensuring that children who have become involved in criminality, and those at risk of becoming involved in criminality, have the tools they need to make good choices and turn away from offending behaviour.”
JUNIOR MINISTER SAYS YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAMMES ARE “KEY” TO GOVERNMENT STRATEGY
Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Niall Collins, also praised the work of Youth Diversion Projects.
“Diverting vulnerable children away from a life of crime and giving them an opportunity to build a better future for themselves is key to our commitment to building safer and stronger communities,” he said.
“Youth Diversion Projects intervene and support young people in trouble that can be the difference between a life-long career in criminality, or the pursuit of a better path.”
FORMER DUBLIN LORD MAYOR SAID YOUTHS USING DIVERSION PROGRAM AS “A GET-OUT-OF-JAIL-FREE-CARD”
Despite the government’s strong endorsement of Youth Diversion Projects, questions remain about their effectiveness. Previous reports have highlighted cases where young offenders who participated in diversion schemes continued to engage in serious criminal activity, potentially raising concerns over whether the programme is being misused by repeat offenders.
Former Lord Mayor of Dublin Nial Ring likened the leniency afforded to repeat offenders to “a get-out-of-jail-free card” in a 2023 Irish Daily Mail interview, telling the paper he was concerned that chances being given were being abused.
“It’s just a bit all over the place. There are children out there who think that the law does not apply to them and they just keep offending,” he said.
JUVENILE CRIME ON THE RISE
Recent reports indicate that juvenile crime in Ireland has been rising, according to the latest available data.
Figures from the 2022 Garda Youth Diversion Programme (GYDP) reveal sharp increases in theft, robbery, fraud, and sexual offences among teenagers. Theft remained the most common crime, with 4,719 cases—a 42% rise from the previous year. Robberies climbed by 29% to 215 cases, while fraud and economic crimes increased by 25% to 358. Sexual offences, including possession of child sexual abuse material, saw a 29% rise, reaching 439 recorded incidents.
Assaults were up 2% to 1,486 cases, and motoring offences increased by 3% to just over 1,500. Homicide-related offences, including threats to kill, remained stable at 86 cases.
Additionally, 1,200 young offenders—14% of all referrals—were deemed unsuitable for diversion due to the severity of their crimes. In response to the growing concerns, the Government is reportedly considering extending the GYDP to include individuals aged 18–24.