Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy and commend his family's proud tradition of service with An Garda Síochána. There is no greater service given than that of the men and women of An Garda Síochána in keeping our country and people safe. They have done so proudly through community policing for 100 years. We are all very conscious of and grateful for that.

Divisional headquarters have moved from my constituency to the neighbouring county but I know when I talk to constituents, neighbours, friends and fellow public representatives that they want to know whether there will be more gardaí on the beat and fewer sitting behind desks doing paperwork and other office work. They also want to know whether there will be more community engagement and more Garda vehicles. For me, the Government and our party, that is at the core of what policing has to be about.

I believe the new operating model will help to get us there. It is quite rightly a matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide where divisional headquarters are located and how he distributes Garda resources across the country. I am happy to convey the Deputy's view to him, although I think his position on it is quite clear. Lest there be any confusion or misrepresentation by others on this issue, that is not to say that the gardaí and people of Sligo do not deserve a Garda station that recognises the significance of Sligo in terms of its population and the importance of Sligo in terms of our national development plan and its being a gateway for the north west. I would be very happy to visit the Garda station with the Deputy - across from his constituency office - and meet with the Garda chief superintendent and superintendents. My office will be in touch to make those arrangements.

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