Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Kildare and the counties surrounding greater Dublin are growing very swiftly in terms of population and these are services that are needed. Government wants to increase Garda strength to 15,000 and, despite the recession of the past number of years, we have been in a position to provide facilities for gardaí to do their job. That is important. I take the Deputy's point but the day to day running of the Garda is a matter for the Commissioner. The programme for Government contains that commitment and the Commissioner must now set out the criteria by which the scheme can operate, both for rural and urban stations.

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