I remind the Deputy that the deployment of gardaí is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. Responsibility for providing escorts has always been assigned to the Garda Síochána. As I understand it, gardaí in the district in which the place of detention is located — in this instance, Oberstown House and Trinity House in the Fingal area — are responsible for providing escorts.
The point the Deputy made is valid, the offenders serving time in Oberstown House and Trinity House come from all over the country. I, too, hope the time will come when gardaí from Kerry, Cork, Dublin south east, Kildare, Longford or Westmeath will be made available to escort young people to court or wherever they need to be escorted. As things stand, it falls on gardaí in the district in which the place of detention is located to perform this duty in the same way as responsibility for the protection of former Taoisigh falls on gardaí in the district in which the person concerned lives. No extra gardaí are assigned to that district.
I have spoken to the local divisional officer about the matter and understand that gardaí from the other villages in north County Dublin now share this responsibility. This provides some relief for the people of Lusk who were worried that the garda assigned to the area during the day would be reassigned to escort duties. I cannot give any grounds for great optimism as it will still be necessary for gardaí to escort prisoners to court. We do not have a separate police force to perform this task.