Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda juvenile liaison officers in east County Galway; the location of such positions and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41773/19]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of juvenile liaison officer posts that are unfilled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41779/19]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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262. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of juvenile liaison officer posts in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41780/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 258, 261 and 262 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for managing An Garda Síochána and for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for personnel matters and the distribution of personnel across the various Garda Divisions.  As Minister I have no direct role in these matters.  I understand however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

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. Their role includes the administration of formal and informal cautions as well as appropriate supervision of children who have been admitted to the Diversion Programme, as provided in Part 4 of the Children Act 2001.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that as at 9 October 2019  there were 113 Juvenile Liaison Officers assigned at a divisional level nationally.  That figure includes eight JLO Sergeants, who are assigned to each of the DMR Regions, Limerick City and Cork City. I am further informed that 3 JLOs have been assigned to the Galway Division.

I am informed by the Commissioner that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested, as JLOs are assigned on a Garda Divisional basis. Accordingly, for the Deputy's information the following table outlines the number of JLOs by Division as at 9 October 2019.