Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I understand there were efforts at mediation locally and that a number of agencies had been involved in this regard, including the Garda. The initiatives were supported by Waterford City Council, Pavee Point, the Irish Traveller Movement, Waterford Traveller CDP and a number of other people. An independent freelance consultant mediator was appointed, but despite this the Garda had to do its duty. It did require significant resources, as the Deputy rightly acknowledged.

The Garda Commissioner is to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts next week and perhaps this will present an opportunity to ask him about the resources that had to be made available to deal with this case. The case is unprecedented but unfortunately it revolves around a certain number of families. Lest anyone suggests there are insufficient Garda resources in the area, there has been a rise of 27% in the Waterford-Kilkenny division in the past four years. In the past three and half years, there has been an increase of 21% in the Waterford district, bringing the strength to 176. The resources are there. Unfortunately, crime will continue but I hope and pray the efforts that have been made in regard to mediation will work. Those incidents seem to have died down for the time being. A number of people have been arrested and are being brought before the courts.

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