Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government has made extensive, increased amounts of money available for Garda purchases - including of vehicles, IT equipment and other items - in order that officers can do their jobs properly. This also includes text alert, community alert and the very close co-operation between gardaí and communities to deal with situations such as that to which the Deputy refers. The decision has also been taken to increase Garda strength to 15,000 by 2020, bringing the overall strength of the force- between civilians and gardaí - to 21,000.

The matter of the sergeant in Borrisokane is clearly one for both the chief of the district and the day-to-day running of the Garda by the Garda Commissioner. The programme for Government contains the reference, to which the Deputy refers, to a pilot scheme for six Garda stations, both urban and rural. It is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to set out the criteria by which she would assess the appropriateness of opening particular stations. I understand that this work is under way.

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