Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that the distribution of Garda numbers and allocations to specialties are matters for the Garda Commissioner. However, the Deputy will be pleased to hear of an increased number of gardaí in his constituency, Roscommon, in line with the national programme for Garda recruitment which will see a further 800 gardaí recruited this year, many of whom will be stationed in Roscommon, across rural Ireland and the Dublin metropolitan area. My ambition and the Government's target is to have a Garda service with 21,000 members by 2021, which will include 15,000 sworn members of An Garda Síochána, 4,000 civilian members and increased numbers in the Garda Reserve, up to a complement of 2,000. I assure the Deputy particular consideration will be given to the point he has raised. I am sure members of the Roscommon Joint Policing Committee are actively engaged in making strong representations on behalf of local communities to the local chief superintendent.

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