asked Minister for Justice if, in view of the recent decision to send gardaí to Yugoslavia on the UN peacekeeping force, he has adequate manpower at the present time to deal with the problems of crime in this country.
Written Answers. - Garda Manpower.
167.
As a member of the United Nations it is our duty to respond positively in support of that organisation's multi-national missions in Yugoslavia and elsewhere. I am convinced that the temporary loss of manpower to the Garda Síochána in providing contingents for such missions is far out-weighed by the long-term benefits which accrue to the force through the experience gained by the members who serve on them, though clearly there is a limit to how much we can do in this regard. The despatch of a 15-Garda contingent to Yugoslavia will not unduly affect the quality of service provided in this country by a Garda force whose current overall serving strength is 10,871.