Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no correlation between the closure of Garda stations and burglary rates. That is the reality of the situation. What we need is what I have outlined, namely, increased Garda visibility and patrol hours, increased mobility and flexibility within an area, resulting in an improved policing service for the public, enhanced co-ordination of Garda activity and more gardaí, as we are providing by recruiting 1,150 extra gardaí.

Fianna Fáil stopped investing in An Garda Síochána in 2009 until it left government, which led to many of the current difficulties. This Government has started the kind of investment that is needed and it will be ongoing, which is what will lead to reduced difficulties and get the best results. On the Deputy's figures on burglaries being solved, if he examines Operation Fiacla he will find the numbers of people arrested and charged are not the percentages he quoted.

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