Ireland has released a new Youth Justice Strategy for 2021 to 2027 developed under the guidance of an expert steering group chaired by James Browne, Minister of State at the Department of Justice. The strategy is based on child welfare principles, deriving in particular from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and has been conceived as a developmental framework to set numerous actions and initiatives into motion.
The main objectives of this new strategy are premised on the need to maximise opportunities to promote positive behavioural change, including a wide range of issues relevant to children and young people at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system. In this sense, the strategy includes actions related to early prevention and intervention, family support, diversion measures, supervision and support in the community, amongst others. Lastly, it should be highlighted that the implementation of this strategy will prioritise enhancement of existing services such as the Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs), and the development of a range of more specialised and evidence-based interventions and programmes.