asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to draft more gardaí into Midleton district, County Cork, in view of the acute shortage of personnel in this area.

The question of Garda strength in Midleton district will be examined in conjunction with the needs of other areas when extra gardaí now being recruited become available for assignment.

Could the Minister tell us when that examination will take place? Is he aware that many stations in the Midleton district are unmanned for a very large portion of the week and that the gardaí in the Midleton area are not granted any overtime?

The examination will take place in conjunction with the influx of new members in the course of this year. There has been an increase of three gardaí in the district since last year.

Is the Minister aware that there is considerable unrest in the east Cork area, which is covered by the Midleton district, because of the lack of gardaí? Will he take any positive steps to protect the people in that area by drafting in more personnel?

The Midleton district is as well served in this respect as any other area.

Surely the Minister is aware that there are many stations in the Midleton district which are unmanned for most of the week?

I am not so aware. There are certain hours in which stations open and stations close and those hours and those regulations are no different in Midleton from anywhere else.