Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 3

Written Answers. - Garda Training.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

49 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Justice her views on whether a serious shortage of gardaí trained as scene-of-crime examiners is hampering criminal investigations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9156/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen):

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 242 qualified scene-of-crime examiners in the Garda Síochána and that this number is sufficient for the operational demands placed on the Force.

John O'Donoghue

Question:

50 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí designated as juvenile liaison officers for each of the Garda divisions; the number of offenders which have been dealt with under the scheme by county; and the number of these who are repeat offenders. [9092/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen):

The deployment of the Garda Síochána is the responsibility of the Garda authorities.

They have informed me that the territorial area covered by a garda juvenile liaison officer is defined on the basis of a Garda district or division as appropriate. This does not always conform to county boundaries. The current deployment of juvenile liaison officers is set out by Garda division, in the following table:

Deployment of Juvenile Officers

District-Division	Gardaí	Sergeant
Dublin Metropolitan Area North	12	1
Dublin Metropolitan Area South	11	1
Dublin Metropolitan Area East	6	1
Dublin Metropolitan Area North Central	3	1
Dublin Metropolitan Area South Central	4	1
Louth-Meath	3
Longford-Westmeath	3
Laois-Offaly	2
Carlow-Kildare	2
Wexford	3
Waterford-Kilkenny	5
Tipperary	2
Cork West	2
Cork City	5	1
Cork North	2
Kerry	2
Limerick	1	1
Clare	1
Galway West	2
Roscommon-Galway East	2
Mayo	2
Sligo-Leitrim	1
Donegal	3
Cavan-Monaghan	2
Total*	81	7

* This total does not include staff at the Garda National Juvenile Office, Harcourt Square, who monitor and co-ordinate all matters relating to juveniles on a national scale.

The National Juvenile Office which co-ordinates the whole Juvenile Liaison Scheme is located at DMA Headquarters in Harcourt Square. It is staffed by one Superintendent, one Inspector, two Sergeants and 4 Clerical Assistants.

Statistics compiled at the National Juvenile Office are on a divisional basis. The following table shows the total number of cautions administered in respect of referrals made during 1995, and the number of these which represent repeat offenders.

1995 Referrals

District-Division	Referrals	Repeat Offenders
Dublin South Central	299	16
Dublin South	641	72
Dublin North	846	73
Dublin North Central	325	16
Dublin East	406	47
Louth-Meath	383	25
Longford-Westmeath	188	24
Laois-Offaly	134	14
Carlow-Kildare	184	8
Wexford	215	8
Waterford-Kilkenny	395	22
Tipperary	70	8
Cork East	632	41
Cork West	84	19
Kerry	111	13
Limerick	256	13
Clare	171	14
Galway West	216	12
Roscommon-Galway East	146	8
Mayo	90	5
Sligo	81	6
Donegal	232	11
Cavan-Monaghan	250	40