Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I welcome what the Minister said if he is serious about his reply. I welcome the new Garda Commissioner's commitment to a higher profile and significance for genuine community policing. Can the Minister assure the House that, in respect of the inevitable reduction in numbers in 2010, community gardaí will not be the first port of call when reductions are made? Will the belatedly growing infrastructure of community policing be allowed to continue rather than be taken as an easy target for reductions when they happen for reasons of retirement and cutbacks during 2010?

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