Mr. Drew Harris:

I will address the last question first. This is what we want to work through with the new operating model. We have to look at the expansion of Dublin and other urban centres and be certain that our response over the next five to ten years is what it should be, with the policing issues created by the growth of population and new, expanding populations centres. Over this year we are charged by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland to create plans that will, in effect, be the blueprint for the organisation in the next five to ten years. We are fortunate that we are a growing organisation. Not only are we receiving additional sworn members, there is also an uplift in Garda staff that will allow us to place more gardaí on the front line. Beyond that we have to come back also with a plan for the increase in the Garda Reserve. This year will also see us increase visibility.

I am conscious of the visibility of gardaí and want to make sure they are not becoming embedded in stations because of work that has to be done, but there is an element of ability, that gardaí are doing jobs that require them to have a warrant which they hold. That is the direction the organisation should take to improve its operational footprint in response to changing demands, parts of which are growing demand and the population issues that arise.