Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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288. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full-year cost of increasing the number of juvenile liaison officers by 25%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29353/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2019 of €1.76 billion.  Very significant capital investment is also being made in Garda ICT, the Garda fleet and the Garda estate.  In total, the Garda capital allocation has increased from €61 million to €92 million in 2019, which represents a 50% increase.

In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the training of its members and Garda staff. The Commissioner is also responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the estimated cost of increasing the number of Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers by 25% is approximately €1,529,800 and that the estimated cost of increasing the number of Sergeant Juvenile Liaison Officers by 25% is approximately €138,450. 

I am informed by the Garda authorities that this estimate has been calculated based on 104 existing Garda JLOs and 8 existing Sergeant  JLOs, correct as at 31 May 2019; and that basic salary costs have been calculated using the midpoint of the Garda salary scale and including fixed allowances which the member is entitled to.  An estimate of Employer's PRSI is also included. Allowances for unsocial hours and any potential overtime payments in excess of standard briefing time are not included.  The impact of pay rises is not included in this estimate.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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289. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full-year cost if the budget for Garda youth ddiversion projects increased by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29354/19]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The allocated budget for Garda Youth Diversion Projects in 2019 is approximately €15.3m and increase of 10% would bring the allocation to approximately €16.83m. This provision includes funding to support the operation of 106 Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) currently. These projects are community-based multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime/anti-social behaviour.

For 2019, there is a renewed emphasis on preventative work by GYDPs, looking at the child in the context of the specific family and the specific community. This includes family support work and working with children aged 8 to 11.

In additional to local projects, the Department also supports pilot projects, to help develop better approaches in areas such as engagement with hard-to-reach or more challenging children, as well as mentoring initiatives. The operation of GYDPs is being further developed through an Action Research Project, (ARP) supported by the University of Limerick, which is currently engaging with 15 local projects. It is envisaged that the ARP will run over a number of years with a view to rolling out the learning to all GYDPs and developing the project network so that every child in the State who might require GYDP services will have access to them.