John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

They should get on message on this issue. My colleague in the other House, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, released information that the current rate of increase in the number of gardaí is 80 to 81 per year. How does the Government propose to square that with its commitment of 2,000 extra gardaí in its lifetime? At the current rate, it would take over 25 years to reach the figure of 2,000 extra gardaí.

Will the Leader arrange for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to come to the House to explain his, and the Government's, seemingly renewed commitment to community employment schemes? We have heard much soft talk in recent days and I would be interested to know, as I am sure would other Members, what the Minister proposes to do to reverse the cuts in those schemes in recent years.

On a related issue — it is one with which the Cathaoirleach would be familiar as a rural dweller like myself — the rural employment scheme was announced in last December's budget with much fanfare but, as of today, I understand fewer than 300 people have been employed under that scheme which was supposed to employ 2,500 farmers. What will the Government do to ensure that scheme is implemented? It made such a hullabaloo about it when it was announced last December.