I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 10 together.
On 1 January 1995 there was a total of 249 members of the force engaged full time on community policing duties in urban areas throughout the country. Some 197 of these were located in the Dublin metropolitan area while the remainder, comprising 52 members, were based in the Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Sligo-Leitrim, Louth-Meath, Longford-Westmeath and Tipperary divisions. This system of community policing was first introduced in 1987 in the Dublin metropolitan area and has been expanding since then.
While I am aware that community gardaí are diverted from their community policing duties from time to time, I am informed by the Garda authorities that this is not something that is done readily and only occurs in cases of absolute necessity. Of course, Garda management must be free to deploy the members of the force in accordance with the demands placed on it. The Garda authorities recognise and respect the unique and important role which community gardaí play in the prevention and detection of crime in local communities, the diversion of community gardaí to other policing duties is kept to an absolute minimum and members are returned to community policing duties in their localities as soon as circumstances allow.