Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the resourcing of An Garda Síochána, it is a matter for the Commissioner as to where they go. My role is to make sure the Commissioner has as many gardaí as possible to be able to allocate into the different regions. We have about 460 that will either come into or leave Templemore this year. With the new recruitment campaign, the intention and the funding that was allocated in this year's budget is for 1,000 additional gardaí next year and we hope to continue that number. That would see 200 gardaí every three months being sent out to the various towns, villages and rural and urban communities. That will help to bolster gardaí on the ground as well as those working in specialised teams. On rural crime, Operation Thor and a number of other specific, targeted operations look at these rural gangs and that type of activity in rural areas. They are being rolled out and will be rolled out right across the winter months.

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