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

It would be misleading to talk about cutting back on investment in resources. We have to await the outcome of the ballots. When that is known, if the proposals are accepted the cost of the proposed settlement will be addressed in discussions between the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Deputy will agree that as Minister for Justice and Equality in this and the last Government, I have demonstrated my commitment and that of both Governments to investing in An Garda Síochána and to ensuring that we develop the very best policing service we can for the people of Ireland. As the Deputy knows, that has included reopening the Garda College and making a substantial investment in Garda vehicles. As he rightly mentioned, the programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure we have a police force of 15,000. A number of recruits will be passing out in Templemore on Thursday of this week. An advertisement was placed recently to begin the process of recruiting more gardaí next year. It is intended to have 800 gardaí recruited during the course of next year.

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