(Dublin Central) asked the Minister for Justice if he will state (a) the numerical strength of the gardaí at present assigned to duty in Dublin city and (b) the number of police cars allotted to each of the Garda stations in the city.

The strength of the Garda Síochána in the Dublin Metropolitan Area on 1st April, 1977, was 2,693.

The answer to the second part of the question is in the form of a tabular statement, which with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

OFFICIAL Garda vehicles on issue to Stations in the Dublin Metropolitan area.

In addition to the vehicles listed, a total of 10S official Garda vehicles which are based in Dublin Castle, are also in use throughout the Dublin Metropolitan Area.

(Dublin Central): Could the Minister give a breakdown of the number of police assigned to foot patrols as against those protecting VIPs and public institutions?

I have not got those statistics. I doubt that it would be possible to give a breakdown in that way. It would be possible, I suppose, although I would have to consider the security implications, to give an indication of the numbers engaged on protection duties. The number on foot patrols would vary from time to time, from division to division, and it would not be possible to give a breakdown which would be a constant figure.

(Dublin Central): Could the Minister give the figure for 1975 of the total number of police so assigned?

I have these figures: on 1st March, 1973, 2,630; on 1st April, 1973, 2,630; on 1st April, 1974, 2,670; on 1st April, 1975, 2,674; on 1st April, 1976, 2,711; on 1st April, 1977, 2,693. I understand the present strength is 18 less than the April, 1976, figure. This reduction, due to retirement, death, and so on, is temporary and these vacancies will be filled in the normal way.

(Dublin Central): The Minister will agree that over the past three or four years there has been little increase in the police force in Dublin city. We know that, with the astronomical rise in crime, it is impossible for the police force to patrol the city properly. If we got a breakdown of the police at present guarding public institutions and VIPs we would find the number available for police work in the city is substantially lower than it was four years ago.

The Deputy should not make that statement because there is no information whatever available to validate it. I should like to see more gardaí in Dublin and, as I indicated, a significant proportion of the new recruits will be allocated to Dublin city to increase the numbers there.