Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide the information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 456 of 31 January 2007 regarding the number of additional Gardaí appointed to each of the stations in Cork West division between the years 2001 and 2006; the opening hours of each of these stations; the numbers of Gardaí in each station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8745/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to my letter to him, dated 27th February, 2007 in this regard. The information sought is contained therein.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide the information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 447 of 31 January 2007 regarding the number of Gardaí in Lusk and Rush Garda Stations; if there are plans to increase the allocation of Gardaí in both these stations; if the part time station in Lusk is to be amalgamated with its counterpart in Rush; and if it is proposed to increase the allocation of Gardaí to Balbriggan Station. [8746/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to my letter to him, dated 27th February, 2007 in this regard. The information sought is contained therein.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide the information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 448 of 31 January 2007 regarding the number of juvenile liaison officers on 1 January in each of the years 2003 to 2007. [8747/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 448 which was put down by the Deputy for answer on Wednesday, 31 January, 2007. As the Deputy will be aware, the information required to enable me to respond fully to the question was not available at the time. However, I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,000 following the attestation of 299 new members on Thursday, 16 November, 2006. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 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 combined strength of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training as at the 31 December 2006 was 14,068. Furthermore, I should say that in December, 2006 as part of a package of anti-crime measures, the Government approved the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000. The accelerated intake of 275 new recruits per quarter into the Garda College will continue until this target is met. The Garda Budget now stands at €1.4 billion, an 11% increase on 2006 and a 96% increase since 1997 in real terms.

I have been further informed that the number of Juvenile Liaison Officers (all ranks) in An Garda Síochána on 31 December, 2002-2006, inclusively, was as set out in the table hereunder.

The Deputy should appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day, personnel strengths of individual stations and units may fluctuate due, for example, to promotions, retirements and transfers. I am further informed that, in addition to the personnel set out above, the National Juvenile Office has a staff of 1 Superintendent (the Director of the Diversion Programme), 1 Inspector and 3 Sergeants.

The Garda authorities state that there are currently two positions vacant for Juvenile Liaison Officers. Both vacancies are located in the Dublin Metropolitan Region North Division. One vacancy arises from the retirement of a Juvenile Liaison Officer and the other is due to the transfer of the incumbent to another Division. Garda management further state that the advertising of these positions will take place shortly and it is envisaged that these vacancies will be filled in the coming weeks.