Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That was what I meant to say. It is what is written on my sheet of paper. I will get an update for the Deputy from the Minister of State.

I share Deputy Paul Murphy's view on how appalling arson attacks are. One struggles to comprehend how, at a time of constraint in capacity, housing supply, accommodation and shelter for a whole variety of needs in our country, people who profess to be speaking up for people - when of course they speak for no one and have no mandate - would take any action to reduce, constrain and constrict further supply. That is idiotic, as well as being a disgusting act of criminality and an attempt to intimidate people. I am conscious there will be a live Garda investigation into that event.

The issue the Deputy raised about security is important and I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, about it. I also take the point that the Government needs to build its communications capacity with communities. We had a discussion on that topic at the most recent Cabinet committee on migration. The people working in the community engagement team are doing a good job and I am sure that is the Deputy's experience. They are good, decent and hard-working people. I am sure they would like more colleagues and I am looking to see what we can do in that regard.

I will inquire about Dalkey Garda station. I know the village well and I know the site is being sold. I will also seek an update on Deansgrange Garda station. I know from travelling around the country and from my own constituency that a variety of different approaches are being taken. I know of some cases where former Garda stations have been repurposed for community use. I can think of one example in my constituency that is now used as a Civil Defence base. There are such examples but others have been sold on the open market. I will get a better understanding of which approach the Garda decides to take and why, and find out if it will first engage with communities and the local authority on the use of the Garda station. I will ask the Minister for Justice to come back to the Deputy on the issue.

Deputy O'Rourke asked about Garda numbers and raised a particular issue about resource allocation. I am not saying the following to pass the buck but as a statement of fact. Resource allocation is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

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