Vol. 506 No. 2
365 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the adequate provision of staff within the junior liaison service; the number of personnel directly involved in the service; if these numbers are comparable to international norms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15496/99]
The Garda authorities, who operate the Garda juvenile liaison scheme, have informed me that the current number of juvenile liaison officers (nationally) is one superintendent, one inspector, eight sergeants and 82 gardaí. They have also informed me that this number is considered adequate for present demands.
The Garda authorities have further informed me that the Garda juvenile liaison scheme is not directly comparable with schemes operated in any other jurisdiction. For example, police youth officers in the United Kingdom operate as part of youth offender teams and have a somewhat different focus from that of the Garda. Direct comparisons of the number of officers so employed is, therefore, not possible on an international basis.
