As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts, the various Garda national units and of course Garda Headquarters. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Gardaí, in each region, trained to conduct specialist child interviews, are as set out in the table:
Region
|
Garda
|
Dublin Metropolitan Region
|
21
|
Northern Region
|
11
|
Eastern Region
|
9
|
Western Region
|
11
|
South Eastern Region
|
11
|
Southern Region
|
10
|