Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Such a scheme existed in the 1970s throughout the country, although I am only familiar with the one in Roscommon. All the houses in the scheme were sold on to gardaí and are now gone. Those houses were provided by the National Building Agency. The same may apply if the Minister decides to initiate a similar scheme. Senator Cummins has put a good case and in the circumstances I see no reason that the National Building Agency could not provide housing on behalf of the Office of Public Works. However, in time these would be sold to the members of the force. The housing in Roscommon was a great addition to the town because young gardaí were given houses which were sought after.

There was a slight contradiction in the Senator's argument. He did not support the Minister with regard to the reserve force. I have reservations on this also. The reserve force would ——