Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 293: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí who are assigned respectively to the air support unit, drug unit, mounted unit, special bicycle unit, cash escort duties daily, internal IT duties, Garda national immigration unit; and the number seconded overseas. [29673/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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It is not possible in the time available to obtain the detailed information requested by the Deputy. I will communicate further with the Deputy as soon as the requested information, to the extent that it can reasonably be compiled, is to hand.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 294: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí who are assigned respectively as juvenile, gay and lesbian, and ethnic minority community liaison officers. [29674/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that there are currently 86 juvenile liaison officer gardaí and eight sergeants working in the various divisions throughout the country. In addition, the national juvenile office has a staff of one superintendent, two inspectors and two sergeants.

I am further informed that the current number of gardaí assigned as liaison officers to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons is 16. The figure for ethnic liaison officers is 187. With regard to Garda resources generally, the accelerated recruitment campaign of 1,100 recruits each year to reach a record force strength of 14,000, in line with the commitment in the An Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of 2006.

The Garda Commissioner will draw up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Garda offices referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered in the context of overall needs throughout the country.