Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

This amendment seeks that the Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Justice, Equality and Law Reform would together deliver housing strategies to help young members of the Garda Síochána to live in local authority estates. There is demand throughout the country for substations. However, it would help if more gardaí lived in areas where there is anti-social behaviour. This amendment would address the issue. It would be useful to disperse a number of officers at locations throughout the country. A pilot project could be put in place to deal with the measures proposed by this amendment. It is worthwhile and something which local authority members and communities are looking for. People want gardaí living in their area. Visible Garda presence in an estate is a deterrent to anti-social behaviour. Both Ministers should get together and develop a pilot project where local authorities would subsidise the accommodation of gardaí. I ask that consideration be given to such a project.