Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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They handle the matter as well it can be handled. If the ratio of population to gardaí was the same around the country as it is in, say, County Meath and County Kildare, there could be 4,500 fewer. I say that with tongue in cheek, but that is the magnitude of the disparity. It is a very low ratio. The last Commissioner acknowledged that that was the case and gave an assurance that it would be rectified following the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore for recruitment and that there would be a higher proportion of gardaí allocated to areas with that profile. There must be a balance struck with experience, as I appreciate.