Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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What works best in an organisation such as An Garda Síochána is ongoing seamless recruitment, which is the phrase I use, because that allows the college in Templemore to plan its work and training, including the supervised work the trainees are doing, and then make arrangements for them to go out into the community. We have to be careful. We need to be aware that the Garda Síochána Inspectorate report identified that there have been periods when gardaí who were being trained at particular points did not have the kind of supervision and training that was required when coming into the force. The Garda Síochána Inspectorate report emphasised that that kind of supervision was very important. With our ongoing recruitment, we need to ensure that all these issues are taken into account.

In response to the Deputy's question, one must take into account factors such as the pace of civilianisation. We have an extra 42 staff who went out to work in Dublin Airport two weeks ago. The Government, at present, is clearly committed to the 13,000 figure. Clearly, the precise numbers needed are an operational matter to keep under review.

The Garda Síochána Inspectorate stated that further analysis needs to be done on the overall numbers, taking into account geographical need and crime levels, to have best allocation of staff around the country. I am very supportive of ongoing continuous recruitment, a matter I will discuss with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. I feel that is the way to go, and our communities need it in order to protect the public as well as obviously dealing with issues such as international security, international terrorism and the increasing amount of cybercrime. It is very important that the Garda has access to the specialists that are needed, given the increasing sophistication of criminals using the Internet and using modern methods of communication in order to commit crime. We see this in the areas of trafficking, pharmaceuticals and a whole range of areas - not least terrorism. Obviously the Garda Commissioner needs to be able to deploy gardaí to those specialist positions as well as to the front-line community policing that is so essential. Apart from talking about overall numbers, we have to consider how civilianisation and reform are progressing and the training and the capacity in Templemore on a yearly basis.