asked the Minister for Justice if he considers that the complement of gardaí in County Tipperary is sufficient; and, if not, if he intends to allocate any more men to that division.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary Garda Strength.
39.
The allocation of Garda manpower as between one Garda Division and another is a matter to be decided according to the professional judgment of experienced Garda officers.
I have already made it clear, more than once, that I would like to see an increase in Garda manpower but there are many other urgent and competing demands on the country's resources. However, as I have recently announced, the Government have agreed that the net strength of the force will be increased by an intake of 400 additional men, that is to say, 400 over and above normal recruitment during this year and next.
Could the Minister say how many of the new gardaí will be allocated to the Cashel area?
I have no idea.
Would the Minister tell us out of the number of gardaí he has mentioned as the increase over and above normal recruitment, how many will be allocated to the Tipperary area?
I do not know. As I said in the reply, the allocation of Garda manpower as between one division and another is a matter to be decided primarily according to the professional judgment of experienced Garda officers.
There is to be an increase of 200. Out of that possibly 70 or 80 would be allocated to the metropolitan areas of Dublin and Cork and the remainder will be divided equally throughout the country.
No.
If this is so——
I do not agree.
The Minister does not agree with what?
With the Deputy's statement up to now.
Then, would the Minister tell us what the position would be if he disagrees with that?
First, the increase is not 200; it is 400.
But it will be 200 in the first year?
Yes.
I am talking about the first year now.
When these men are trained and ready to be allocated the Commissioner will decide where to send them. I cannot say in advance where the demand will be. They will be sent where the need is greatest.
I take it the Minister will agree that the number of men allocated to Dublin and Cork city areas will represent a figure of between 70 and 80 out of 200——
I do not know where the Deputy got his figures.
This does not arise. We are dealing with the personnel in County Tipperary. The question deals with Tipperary only.
I am dealing with Tipperary. I am asking the Minister if, on the basis of need, he would agree that the number of gardai to be allocated to Dublin and Cork would represent a figure of 70 or 80 and that therefore Tipperary would expect roughly four gardaí, the same as in any other chief superintendent's area. Is this what the Minister believes is his reply to the Conroy Report? The Minister has no reply to that, I take it.
Rubbish.