asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied that the strength of the Garda Síochána in the docks area of Dublin is adequate to meet the particular situation existing there.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.

Both of these questions suggest that an insufficient number of gardaí is assigned to the particular areas to which the questions relate. The Commissioner of the Garda Síochána has informed me that the present allocation of gardaí to each of the areas is the maximum that can be provided at present having regard to the overall demands on the available resources. No decision has yet been taken in regard to the allocation of the extra gardaí authorised by the Government but the Deputies may take it that a proportion of them will be allocated to the Dublin area.

I should like to refer to recent publicity which suggests that a special crime unit operating in the docks area has been disbanded and has been replaced by what has been called two gardaí on bicycles. The fact is that there has been no diminution in the number of gardaí on duty in the docks area. Six gardaí—not seven gardaí and a sergeant as has been suggested —operating a patrol car on a 24-hour basis have been replaced by six gardaí on cycle patrol on the same basis. The Garda authorities expect that the new arrangement will provide better police coverage of the area.

I am, in any case, surprised that the change should have been the subject of criticism—some of it from quarters from which a fairly constant demand is for more emphasis on foot patrolling. I might add that the area patrolled by the gardaí in question is also patrolled by members of the harbour police.