Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of juvenile liaison officers retiring from the Garda at the end of February; if all of them will be immediately replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8888/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner, in consultation with his senior management team, is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no function in that process. I have, however, been informed by the Garda Commissioner that on 31 December 2011, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the personnel strength of Juvenile Liaison Officers was 115, of which 11 are due to retire from the force by the end of February 2012.

While there is no getting away from the reality that public expenditure and public service numbers have to be reduced in the context of the agreement with the EU and the IMF, it is our intention to maintain front-line services at the highest level possible. Garda management will continue to closely monitor the allocation of resources, including transfers and retirements, in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.