Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that response. As he is probably aware, Cavan and Monaghan are both extremely rural counties, so for gardaí to respond to the report of a crime or to investigate a crime, they will need vehicles. The response to a parliamentary question I submitted recently indicates the number of vehicles allocated to the Cavan-Monaghan division in 2022 was six but the number of vehicles removed from the division in the same year was nine, so the division is down three vehicles across the two counties. For people to feel confident, secure and safe in their homes, especially in rural areas, they need to know that gardaí are resourced and that there are enough personnel and enough vehicles so that they can respond to reports of crime in a very speedy manner.

11 o’clock

I wonder if the housing issue is also having an impact on the force. Gardaí earn a reasonable amount of money but the cost of accommodation has gone sky high. I am aware of gardaí stationed in Cavan who come from other counties. They cannot even live in the county because of the cost involved. I wonder if that is that another reason for the high number of resignations. People feel they cannot live in this country.

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