Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 192: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community Gardaí in Donegal; the number of juvenile liaison officers; and the details of Garda youth diversion programmes in the county. [42249/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,000 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,298 (or 21.5%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. The induction of 280 new Garda recruits to the Garda College on 6 November, 2006 resulted in a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,137. The personnel strength of An Garda Síochána (all ranks) as at 4 December, 2006 was 12,990. The Garda Budget now stands at €1.3 billion, a 13% increase on 2005 and an 85% increase since 1997 in real terms.

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 5 (all ranks) full time Community Gardaí attached to Donegal Division, all of whom are based in Letterkenny.

In addition, I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are three Juvenile Liaison Officers in Donegal Division based in Buncrana, Letterkenny and Donegal Town. There is one Garda Youth Diversion Programme in the county, the LEAF Project in Raphoe.