Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí operating as juvenile liaison officers; the proportion of personnel this represents; if he has plans to increase the numbers having regard to the success of schemes operated by JLO's; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40183/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Gardaí operating as Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLO's) on 30 September 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 105. The overall strength of An Garda Síochána on 30 September 2008 was 14,284. The number operating as JLO's represents 0.74% of the overall strength.

The Commissioner has approved the appointment of 7 Juvenile Liaison Officers per year for the period 2007- 2010. The National Juvenile Office (N.J.O.) has examined the areas which will benefit most from the creation of the additional 7 new Juvenile Liaison Officers, (J.L.O.) posts for 2008. In deciding on the locations, the following matters were taken into consideration:

The number of children referred to the Diversion Programme over the past three years;

The number of JLO's currently employed in each Division;

The social background of the location under consideration;

The geographical size of the area to be covered by existing JLO;

Demographic trends;

The work demands on the JLO.

Taking all these matters into consideration, the NJO recommended that a JLO be appointed in each of the following areas:

DMR South (Tallaght);

DMR West (Finglas);

DMR North (Coolock);

Tipperary;

Cavan/Monaghan;

Limerick;

Kerry.

The position in the DMR South (Tallaght) was filled on 15th April 2008. Appointments are imminent to the positions in the DMR West, DMR North, Tipperary and Limerick and competitions have commenced to fill the positions in Kerry and Cavan/Monaghan. It is intended that additional JLO's will be appointed over the next two years.