Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand that an additional 20 or 23 gardaí are being assigned to Drogheda and County Louth as a result of the crimes that have been committed there recently. I very much welcome this, and I know that Deputy Adams will too. Deputy O'Dowd has been very active on this issue as well. The way in which gardaí are deployed is very much a matter for the Garda Commissioner, as should be the case. The Government's job is to provide additional resources for the Garda: first, to run the economy in such a way that produces additional resources; and, second, to ensure that some of those resources are assigned to security and the Garda. We are recruiting all the time. An additional 600 gardaí will be recruited this year. The Garda budget of €1.5 billion for 2019 is the highest ever. However, there will always be a need for additional resources. Such resources will be provided in the next budget but to the extent that we can afford.

See this speech in context