I propose to take Questions Nos. 939, 976, 1011, 1054, 1092, 1136 and 1173 together.
As the Deputies will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure optimum use is made of the resources.
I am advised by the Commissioner that Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs) are specially trained to fulfil a key role in implementing the Garda Diversion Programme. Their role includes the administration of formal and informal cautions as well as appropriate supervision of children who have been admitted to the Diversion Programme, as provided in Part 4 of the Children Act 2001.
I am informed by the Commissioner that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested, as JLOs are assigned on a Garda Divisional basis. Accordingly, for the Deputy's information I have set out in the following table, as supplied by the Commissioner, the latest figures by Division.
Juvenile Liaison Officers Divisions 2009 - 2018
Division
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018*
|
Sligo/Leitrim
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Kilkenny/Carlow
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
Meath
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
Mayo
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
DMR North
|
12
|
11
|
11
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
12
|
12
|
*As of 31 May 2018