Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I understand the issues the Deputy and her colleagues have raised in respect of it. It was a shocking situation overall.

Deputy Smith raised the issue of reconfiguration of Garda districts. I will talk to the Minister for Justice in respect of the point about the unique policing demands of Border areas requiring specific resourcing.

Deputy Ó Murchú supported that. As for community safety partnerships, these are important and the Minister is moving with regard to implementation. On migration processing times, the first phase is now being processed relatively quickly. The appeal stage needs significant attention and the Minister is working on that and has specific proposals to speed up the second phase.

I appreciate the comments Deputy McCormack made on the increased visibility of gardaí on our streets but also the need for greater Garda presence in smaller towns in the county of Offaly. He mentioned Banagher and a few other towns. I have asked the Minister, in the context of more and more people coming through Templemore, that we look at proper deployment throughout the country, particularly in rural Ireland and the smaller towns because it has an impact.

On the matter raised by Deputy Paul Murphy, I have no issue at all with making sure we have long-term social housing provision for those fleeing domestic violence. We need more permanent structures as well and more secure units. They are all at varying degrees of progress but we need to accelerate that also.

Deputy Currie raised the issue of safety partnerships.

I will talk to the Minister. Obviously, the Deputy has specific ideas in respect of the area she represents. I am sure if she discusses it with the Minister he will respond with flexibility on how the groups and subgroups are set up and so on.

Deputy Malcolm Byrne is correct. There is overcrowding in our prison system. It is, again, a feature of a growing population. Rehabilitation is very important. Education provision is very important in our prisons and that opportunities are given to people, as well as follow-on services. We help to reintegrate back into society through work, placements and so on. We often do not hear of the success stories where it does work. That reintegration is to the benefit of the individual and to society as a whole. I will check with the Minister about capacity on the female side to which the Deputy referred.

Deputy Coppinger raised the issue of deportations. They are in respect of people whose asylum application has failed. They are not eligible for asylum, having gone through the process, and, therefore, they should not be in the country. We must always have security in our borders. What we mean by that is that not everybody can simply come into the country. We have work permits for people who wish to work legally in the country and we have various visas and legal frameworks that facilitate the flow and egress. That is not just Ireland; it is every country in the world. It is not virtue signalling to racism or the far right when we say that.

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