David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The number of new recruits this year has been reduced from 800 to 600. There are competing demands for resources and very clear challenges such as shootings and robberies in Drogheda. Our periodic report mentioned the fact that senior gardaí were concerned about the reopening of Stepaside Garda station, but it still seems to be going ahead, despite the fact that there is a demand for more resources in Drogheda and other parts of the country. How did we go from 800 to 600, given the demand for increased capacity where very serious crimes are taking place?