Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

For the benefit of the House, I again refer to the increased budgetary allocation to enable the Garda recruitment drive to continue for next year, with up to 800 new recruits. Allowing for the retirement of approximately 300 gardaí, that will see a net intake of ambitious, energetic and highly qualified gardaí to the order of approximately 500. Deputy O'Callaghan was somewhat selective in the examples he gave to the House, which is no surprise. To acknowledge the new recruits in the Cavan and Monaghan division, from the most recent figures, as of 12 September 2018, there were four new recruits in Cavan and Monaghan, five in Donegal, four in Sligo and Leitrim and eight in Louth. These issues will continue to remain under review and active consideration by the Garda Commissioner who is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the available resources, including proposals for the opening and closing of Garda stations along the Border in response to the various challenges that arise from time to time.

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