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

In terms of allocating gardaí, it is important, in the first instance, that recruitment continues and that we have more gardaí coming out of Templemore. As I said, we have over 150 coming out on Thursday next. It is important that they have proper supervision to begin with. The O'Higgins report identified that when gardaí are being trained, it is really important that they are properly supervised when they go out into the community. We want to ensure that will be the case.

I have provided to the Deputy details on the Clare division, in October 2010 and 2016, respectively. The number of gardaí in the Clare Garda division, as of 31 October 2010, was 331 and in 2016, it was 292. The number of officers at stations throughout the country is building back up to the level it was at when the boom was at its height. Of course, that proved not to be sustainable and recruitment stopped. This resulted in the difficulties the Deputy has been referencing. As of now, there are 292 gardaí in the 17 stations in the Clare division.

As already stated, we plan further recruitment for the reserve, which will help, and ongoing recruitment this year. I have given the Deputy the breakdown in respect of the number of Garda stations in the Clare division.

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