Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the importance of the issues raised by the Deputies. I stress that unprecedented funding has been made available by the Government to An Garda Síochána - a sum in excess of €1.6 billion. I acknowledge the valid point raised by Deputy Smyth in respect of Border policing. I visited the Border recently and had an opportunity to discuss the issue with local gardaí.

In reply to Deputy Healy-Rae, the Government's ambition is to have 21,000 members of An Garda Síochána in service in three years. We are on target to achieve that. I look forward to attending a passing-out ceremony in Templemore next Friday, which will result in another 200 highly ambitious, energetic and well-trained gardaí entering service. Having regard to the fact that it is the Garda Commissioner's job to disburse An Garda Síochána's numbers throughout the country, it is both fair and reasonable to suggest that some of these new members will be stationed in Kerry and in Cavan-Monaghan.

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