Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Is there any plan to expand the Garda youth diversion project this year or is there a new project?

A response to a parliamentary question last year - I presume the figures are broadly the same - showed that 111 out of 563 operational Garda stations do not have broadband. I expect that some of them may have been tackled but I doubt that all 111 have. What plans has An Garda Síochána or the Department to tackle that?

I refer the plan to reach 15,000 sworn members by 2021. I have already said that we should consider hiring more than that. Are we on track to reach that target? I will take this opportunity to refer to a trend that I am seeing more and more. There are areas, such as Carrigaline and Douglas in my own area, which have grown rapidly - I am sure this has happened in parts of Dublin and the commuter belt - where there were small Garda stations that would never have been district headquarters or anything like that and which would have a small complement of staff who are really struggling as the population, which is often very young, has increased. It is possible that the Department and An Garda Síochána need to pay specific attention to those areas that have seen rapid growth. Does the Minister have any such plans? If so, will he outline them? There is a need for more Garda resources in those areas.