Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. At a recent meeting of the County Cavan joint policing committee, under questioning from other members and I, Chief Superintendent Mangan indicated that he needed at least 30 new recruits. The force's strength in Cavan-Monaghan is approximately 330. As I said earlier, that division has had the highest reduction in Garda numbers in the country during the period in question. We also lost nine Garda stations. My colleague, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, referred earlier to the problems associated with rural crime and the targeting of rural families and the farming community in particular. We have particular difficulties in the Cavan-Monaghan division in that we have a land border with a different jurisdiction, which touches on the Northern counties of Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh. That is a long frontier to be policed. As we know, a border with another jurisdiction puts extra pressure on policing resources. I am aware that the chief superintendent has been seeking additional resources through the assistant commissioner in charge of human resources in An Garda Síochána, as well as with the Commissioner. I appeal to the Minister, in view of the particular circumstances that face us in the Border area, that particular consideration be given to providing us with a decent allocation when the next recruits graduate and are assigned to their posts.

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