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

Deputy Dooley knows as well as I do that all front-line services were affected by the economic disaster that was visited upon the country. Thankfully, we are now recovering. In the context of policing, that recovery has given rise to the new recruitment I have outlined.

It is worthwhile noting, in terms of the deployment of probationary gardaí, that the Garda Commissioner has deployed gardaí right across the country to almost every division so that every area has benefited from the recruitment. Clearly, every Deputy wants to see it accelerated in his or her area and to have more community police in place.

The recruitment drive next year will ensure that there will be more gardaí available. However, I believe that we have to look carefully - this is what the Garda Inspectorate is examining - at the deployment of such resources. It has to be based on the reality of situations on the ground and the crime figures and population trends have to be analysed. I repeat, as Deputy Dooley will be well aware, that it is the Garda Commissioner who makes these decisions. I can be responsible for policy, budget and recruitment, but it is the Garda Commissioner who will make the detailed decisions about where gardaí should be deployed throughout the country. That is as it should be.

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