Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

In the context of Deputy Flanagan's question, I would expect that the Garda Síochána, when considering changes to divisional boundaries, would bear in mind the necessity to review the issue of the refurbishment of existing Garda stations.

On the general issue of policing, particularly rural policing, it is not just a matter of building more Garda stations. Under the policing plan prepared by the Garda Síochána, focus has been placed on intelligence gathering in the context of the targeting of elderly people by criminal gangs and that has been reasonably successful. Indeed, a major criminal gang from the south of the country, which targeted elderly people in the Cork and Limerick areas, has been broken up and is currently before the courts. Good Garda intelligence on the ground dealing with the situation is important, as is ensuring that Garda accommodation is as required.

On the green man issue, I suggest the Deputy tables a separate question on the efficacy of that project.

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