3 October 2006

Justice

Juvenile Liaison Officer Numbers

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Juvenille Liaison Officers currently working here, if there are plans to increase their number during the current Dáil term, if he has satisfied himself that these Gardaí are adequately resourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. 

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):

I have been informed by the Garda Authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that at present there are 87 Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers and 8 Juvenile Liaison Officer Sergeants working in various Divisions throughout the country.  In addition to this, the National Juvenile Office has a staff of 1 Superintendent, (the Director of Diversion Programme), 1 Inspector and 2 Sergeants. 

JLO's are responsible for implementing the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme, which provides an opportunity to divert juvenile offenders from criminal activity.  It operates on a nationwide basis under the supervision and direction of the Garda National Juvenile Office, Harcourt Square, Dublin 2.  The Programme provides that, in certain circumstances, a juvenile under 18 years of age, who freely accepts responsibility for a criminal incident, may be cautioned as an alternative to prosecution. 

The Children Act 2001 provides a statutory basis for the Juvenile Diversion Programme.  The Programme came into operation in 1 May 2002 and now includes provision on restorative cautioning and conferencing which form part of the comprehensive restorative elements in the Act.  The Programme has proven to be highly successful in diverting young people away from crime by offering guidance and support to juveniles and their families.  In the more serious cases, juveniles are placed under supervision of Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers, who are responsible for administering the Programme at the local level. 

The Criminal Justice Act 2006 provides for a change to the age of criminal responsibility and for the introduction of behaviour orders for children.  Officials of the Irish Youth Justice Service in my Department have begun consultations with the Garda authorities on the effect and resource implications which these changes will have on the work of the Juvenile Diversion Programme.  These provisions have not yet been commenced. 

In addition to the Juvenile Diversion Programme, there are also 64 Garda Youth Diversion Projects nationwide.  Garda Youth Diversion Projects aim to bring about the conditions whereby the behavioural patterns of young people towards law and order can develop and mature.  These projects cater for approx 2,500 participants per annum and are particularly targeted at 10-18 year old "at risk" youths in communities where a specific need has been identified.  The allocation of funding for the 64 Garda Youth Diversion Projects (along with 7 Local Drug Task Force Projects) in 2006 is just over 6.6 million euro, which is an increase of 1.2 million on 2005. 

It is my intention to ensure that 100 schemes will be established nationwide before the end of 2007.  Recently, I announced the establishment of ten new projects in the first phase of expansion of the scheme, bringing the total number of projects to 74.  The 10 new projects are located at Blanchardstown, Birr, Carlow, Castlebar, Cavan, Clondalkin, Limerick, Tallaght and Tralee (two projects).  The appointment of additional Juvenile Liaison Officers for these projects is under consideration. 

I should add that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target.  This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year.  The first three groups of newly attested Gardaí under this accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March, June and September of this year and the fourth such group will become fully attested members of the Force later this year.  Further tranches of approximately 275 newly attested Gardaí will follow every 90 days thereafter until the programme is complete.  The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme will be given the fullest consideration.