Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on introducing incentives to community gardaí to live in the communities that they police; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47126/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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While there are currently no proposals to introduce specific incentives for members of An Garda Síochána to live in communities they police, it is the case that where Garda official accommodation is available in any of the operational Garda Divisions, applications are invited from members to occupy such accommodation, thus allowing Gardaí to live among the community they serve.

An Garda Síochána is committed to introducing a cohesive and integrated structure to community policing throughout Ireland and the development of the Garda Síochána National Model of Community Policing is at an advanced stage. Detailed and lengthy research was conducted with interested parties over a long period of time in the development of this model. I very much agree with the Garda Inspectorate's view that there is a strong foundation of community policing in Ireland and in that context it should be recognised that community policing is a matter for each member of An Garda Síochána.