Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said to the Deputy, the traditional resource commitment of 100 personnel is now down to 16. I have instructed that there be a further phased reduction. There has been a substantial reduction in line with the security assessment and in consultation with the Department of Justice, following recommendations from the Commission on the Defence Forces. I am conscious, since I met the Deputy, of the issues and I have spoken with my officials about this issue. We intend that the prison authorities should ultimately be in a position to deal with it and the necessity for the aid to civil power would no longer exist. That would be the fervent hope of all of us in that regard, and that is the direction of travel.

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