Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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327. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vacancies in each Garda division for Garda juvenile liaison officers as of 31 December 2015, 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9601/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

I am advised by the Commissioner that Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs) are specially trained to fulfil a key role in implementing the Garda Diversion Programme at local level. This role may include the administration of formal and informal cautions as well as appropriate supervision of children who have been admitted to the Diversion Programme as provided for in Part 4 of the Children Act 2001.

For the Deputy’s information I have attached in tabular form the total number of JLOs assigned to Garda Divisions for 2015 - 2017 and as of 31 January 2018, the latest date for which figures are readily available.