Dáil debates

Wednesday, 27 November 2019

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

 

12:20 pm

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach's openness to consider it. When the original north inner city task force was established, it was to see how we could have an integrated template to make a substantial permanent difference in a particular community, but it was not understood then that it was going to be a once-off initiative. I pointed out yesterday there are seven areas in this city where unemployment is north of 30%. We need to have specific, bespoke, integrated solutions for these areas so that we simply are not talking about general figures for our unemployment being 5% and all is well. We need to drill down.

I ask the Taoiseach specifically about the number of gardaí, because it is an issue that is coming up again and again. People want to see the visible presence of gardaí in our communities, and community policing is a critical focus of the reform agenda.

Why was this year's intake to Templemore Garda college reduced from the Government target of 800 to 600? Why did the Government reduce next year's target to 700 in the recent budget?

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