Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)

I am sure the Deputy will understand that I am not in a position to comment on any individual Garda station. I am sure the Minister for justice will be able to respond to the Deputy on that but the Government is fully supportive of the efforts of the Minister to increase the number of gardaí and to continue our efforts to keep our streets safe in Cork and elsewhere. Three things have been done in that regard. First, as the Deputy will be aware, we have increased the stipend that is available to those who want to become gardaí and are attending Templemore to help them to deal with the cost of that training and to maintain their living standards when they are there. Second, we have changed the age at which people can join An Garda Síochána, recognising the fact that many people are able to join An Garda Síochána a little later in life and do really important work. Third, we have increased, budget by budget, the amount of funding that is available to An Garda Síochána to ensure that Templemore is supplying new gardaí and prioritising them being on the beat on the streets of our cities and towns. That is what we are doing. We know that issues of law and order and safety continue to matter so much. We need to do more on it and they are the actions that the Government and the Minister have put in place.

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