County Longford was the second highest in the country when it came to new referrals to the probation service.
Figures published in the Probation Service’s annual report shows it dealt with over 17 thousand people in the community last year.
The Probation Service assesses and manages offenders in the community, aiming to support rehabilitation and reduce offending.
Data revealed that 297 referrals per 100,000 residents were recorded in Longford during 2024.
Elsewhere, Leitrim and Roscommon recorded 99 and 155 respectively.
Twenty community service orders were issued in both Leitrim and Roscommon in 2024 per 100,000 residents.
Sixty were issued in Longford.
Meanwhile, nationally, there were 609 referrals for children aged between 12 and 17 in 2024.
This is a 10% increase on the previous year, and higher than any other time since 2015.
Nationally, more than 222,000 community service hours were ordered in lieu of a custodial sentence, the equivalent of 856 years in prison.
The Probation Service's Deputy Director, Fíona Ní Chinnéide says young people who offend do have the chance to change:
