Kirk Downey says he is too old for breaking windows. He will be 14 in May. "I hardly ever get in trouble now but I think that's because of the people I hang around with now," he said.
He is one of the participants on Youth Action Project Sligo (YAPS), a Garda youth diversion project funded by the Department of Justice which aims to "divert" young people away from crime.
Young people of Kirk's age represent one of the biggest problems facing gardai in Sligo.
Supt John Fitzgerald describes their activities as "wanton vandalism". While the individuals change, he said that at any one time there are up to 40 young people hanging around the streets at night.
They are aged from 12 upwards and are mostly boys. Offences include breaking shop windows, breaking into cars, and theft, particularly of mobile phones left on car seats.
Supt Fitzgerald sees it as a priority to steer them away from criminal activity.
Kirk had been expelled from school before getting on to the YAPS scheme but he has now returned. Did he stop getting in trouble because he was afraid of what would happen to him? "I know what would happen, I would end up like my uncle - in prison," he said matter-of-factly.
Some of the participants were actually taken to Castlerea prison to see what life would be like but unfortunately private TVs in bedrooms seemed to impress them more than the downside of being locked up.
It appears YAPS works by offering an incentive to young people to stay out of trouble. They get to play a range of sports, go camping and mountain hiking and have been on camping trips to Wales and Scotland.
Other activities include horse riding, music lessons and art and they also have access to a computer. But if they get in trouble all these privileges are withdrawn. The project is run by North Connaught Youth and Community Service Ltd which also has a youth information centre in Sligo and organises a range of schemes for young people.
Project co-ordinator Ms Ciara Griffin says the main complaint she hears is that there is nothing for them to do around Sligo. Many have been barred from clubs because of their own misbehaviour, but she says they appreciate the activities offered at YAPS.
Participants cannot give up school to go on the project, they must be referred - either through the juvenile liaison officer, community gardai, the home-youth liaison service or probation officers.
Between 20 and 30 youngsters, ranging in age from 12 to 17, are referred each year and there are about 12 actively taking part in the project.
One of the most serious issues is the problem of school attendance, according to Mr Pat Forde of North Connaught Youth Services.
He said one 13-year-old boy came into the project who wasn't registered in any school. "The question is if they leave primary school in June, who physically checks that they go on to second level. No one seemed to have to answer to that," he said. The other problem is that they can go into school in the morning, but leave after the first class.
The school attendance issue has now been taken up by the gardai and letters have been sent to schools in Sligo. Mr Forde says he believes it is a problem happening right around the State.
Mr Forde is realistic about what YAPS is achieving. "Does it divert them away from crime? We couldn't say that with a hand on our heart, but it provides a place where they can come and feel safe and they can get advice and know that we are not going to be judgmental. That's not to say that we condone things but we take it from where they are at," he says.
Ruth Nooney has to be one of the success stories. At 17 she is the oldest on the project and is also the only girl. She says she has changed "an awful lot" from the time she used to get involved in fights around the town at night.
Her main interest now is outdoor activities such as mountain climbing and her enthusiasm is obvious. She is clearly proud that on the last trip she was a group leader and assistant to the instructors.