Mr. John O'Driscoll:

We were given leeway in this regard. I say quite clearly in the second interim report and indeed in the final report that I believe it is not wise to rely on crime statistics and I put significant emphasis on population increase. For example, one part of the Stepaside district has witnessed the third highest population increase in the country. In the period 2006 to 2011, I think there was a population increase of 38%. Regarding our recommending the reopening of Rush Garda station, it is adjacent to Skerries. I think Skerries and Longford are the two towns that have been newly designated major towns as a result of having populations of more than 10,000. We have therefore put great emphasis in the recommendations we have made on population and have given it much greater significance than crime statistics, which can change for a variety of reasons which are not based or dependent on whether there is a Garda station at a particular location.