asked the Minister for Justice what arrangements are being made to provide adequate Garda protection for the persons and property of people in the Castlemartyr, Mogeely and Ladysbridge areas, County Cork, in view of the closure of the station in Castlemartyr; and when these arrangements will come into effect.

Castlemartyr Garda station was closed on 23rd June and alternative arrangements for the policing of the sub-dictrict were brought into operation on that date. Police arrangements are a matter for the Commissioner who is responsible, in law, for the internal administration of the force.

It would not be in the interests of the prevention or detection of crime to indicate the precise arrangements for policing a particular area. The Commissioner assures me that the areas mentioned by the Deputy are being adequately serviced.

I quite appreciate that the Minister would not like to specify what arrangements are being brought into force but, as the Minister knows very well, no arrangements whatsoever were brought into force to afford the people in the areas mentioned adequate protection.

I cannot have a speech on this. The Deputy may put a question.

The information the Minister has given is totally wrong.

That is not a matter for the Chair. The Deputy may put a question.

Would the Minister like to state what arrangements are being made to provide adequate Garda protection for the people in the areas mentioned?

The Deputy has acknowledged the fact that it would not be in the public interest to give such details and I cannot understand how, having done that, he can now ask for them.

Would the Minister agree that one squad car is sufficient to cover an area of 200 square miles in East Cork?

Of course, it is not.

That is a hypothetical question and, on that basis, I am not prepared to answer it.