Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

As the Taoiseach will be aware, there is much concern in rural areas about cutbacks in the Garda Síochána. Members of rural communities have protested outside the Dáil and the Garda Representative Association has spoken out about these cuts and expressed concerns in recent times. I bring to the Taoiseach's attention an incident which occurred in my constituency in recent days as I am sure it will cause him concern. A few weeks ago, gardaí were taking more than 24 hours to take statements in response to reports of thefts and crimes. It became more serious in recent days when a woman returned to her home to find it had been burgled and was informed by the garda on duty, when she telephoned her local Garda station in some distress, that he did not have a vehicle available to him. When she offered to collect him to bring him to her home the garda - fair play to him - showed flexibility and took up her offer and visited her home to investigate the crime. Warnings issued by the Garda Representative Association are now being realised on the ground. There are insufficient personnel and vehicles to provide backup to communities. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to urgently review the impact of cuts on the Garda Síochána, to meet the Garda Commissioner as soon as possible to consider cases such as this, and to put in place a plan that will reassure communities in rural areas and along the Border that they are safe and have the Garda cover they need?

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