Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy has made a cogent and strong case for more gardaí in Roscrea. We are very conscious of this issue. I think about 11,000 applied to the Garda this year. We might have to look at training capacity to get more throughput. I think the Minister is looking at that. The Minister would acknowledge that in the past number of years, there was a concentration on Dublin. This was post-Covid and with the closure of the college during Covid. That has shifted now. Other cities have benefited. There is a stronger focus on the regions. In that context, I would hope that from the next throughput from the college, we could start allocating more gardaí to the regions and towns like Roscrea. I will certainly talk to the Minister. The Deputy has raised the issue and made a legitimate case, given the numbers he quoted. I will revert to him.

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