Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of Garda numbers, particularly in Border counties. I refer, in particular, to comments made by two members of the Garda Representative Association, one from the Donegal division and the other from the Cavan-Monaghan division, in which they highlighted their concerns about Brexit and what might happen in the event that there was a hard border. They were putting the Government on notice that the Garda did not have the numbers to provide an adequate policing service for the community as things stood, never mind in the even that there was a hard Brexit. To highlight this point, they gave a couple of examples. They referred to Clones, County Monaghan, which has a population of over 3,000 people. All it has is one sergeant and two gardaí. Monaghan Garda station recently lost three members, or 10% of its entire workforce, and they have not been replaced. The area from the Cavan border to the Armagh border which covers three counties is patrolled by one patrol car with two personnel on board, if we are lucky. It includes Monaghan town, Clones and the entire countryside. This clearly shows that there is a serious issue with Garda numbers in the Border counties. I would like the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to address it. In addition, he might outline his plans in the event that there is a hard border. What are his plans to strengthen the Garda force in the Cavan-Monaghan division, County Donegal and along the entire Border frontier?