Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of children to whom the Garda diversion programme as provided for under the Children's Act 2001 has been applied in each year since its coming into force in 2002; the number of Gardaí involved in the programme; the number of children whose subsequent to involvement in the programme have been subject to criminal charges for subsequent alleged offences; and the steps proposed by him to extent application of the programme. [4022/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that the number of children to whom the Garda Diversion Programme has been applied in each year since 2002 is as follows:-

I have also been informed by the Garda Authorities that the National Juvenile Office does not collate figures in relation to the number of children who have been involved in the Garda Diversion Programme and have been subject to criminal charges for subsequent alleged offences.

As of 31 December 2007, the number of Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLO) was 93, and the Garda Commissioner has given a commitment to appoint an additional 28 JLOs by 2010. Of course, while JLOs are specifically dedicated to this service, a significant number of Gardaí are also engaged in liaising with juveniles on a day-to-day basis. As for the deployment of Garda resources generally, I am assured that Garda personnel assignments throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed by Garda management. This is to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.

The Garda Diversion Programme is an initiative, first introduced in 1963, to provide an opportunity to divert juvenile offenders from criminal activity. The programme provides that if certain criteria are met, a juvenile offender under 18 years of age may be cautioned as an alternative to prosecution. It enables referral to the Garda Youth Diversion Projects which operate separately from the Programme and aim to divert young people away from crime and anti social behaviour. There are currently 100 of these type of projects operating throughout the country and this number will be extended to 168 in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government. Additional resources have been allocated to fund the further expansion of these projects with total funding set at €11.909 million for 2008.