Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has pledged €2.8 million to tackle youth crime.
Ms Fitzgerald said the funding would enhance the range of social inclusion measures available to support young people, particularly in areas of economic and social disadvantage. The money is being provided under the dormant accounts disbursement scheme.
The locations for the new projects will be selected on the basis of which areas have the worst youth crime problems.
In addition, the Minister announced an allocation of €233,000 to a number of initiatives to support the victims of crime. Ms Fitzgerald said other initiatives planned for 2015 included legislation to implement the EU victims directive and the establishment of a victims support office in every Garda division.