asked the Minister for Justice if he considers that Garda stations should be maintained and re-opened where possible in rural towns and villages; and his proposals in this regard.

No small rural station has been closed for more than seven years. In general I am in favour of maintaining a Garda presence in rural areas but I am not in a position to say whether stations will be re-opened in areas where stations were formerly maintained.

I take it the reply indicates that the Minister has changed his views on the subject. My recollection is that he consistently called for the re-opening of Garda stations in rural areas when in Opposition.

The second question I want to put to the Minister is: would he not agree, in view of the mounting level of crime in the country now reaching alarming proportions, the re-opening of Garda stations in rural areas would give some sense of security to people there and, secondly, help to reduce the level of crime or, at least, increase the level of its detection?

I do not know from where the Deputy got his piece of information—certainly not from me in my reply. I said no small rural station has been closed for more than seven years. I said that in general I am in favour of maintaining a Garda presence in rural areas but I am not in a position to say whether stations will be reopened in areas where stations were formerly maintained. That is the position. I am as good a believer in having a strong Garda presence throughout the country as any Member of this House could be. The matter is under review. I am constant in what I am saying but his party were not while in office. During the four-and-a-half years of Coalition administration there was only one Garda station opened. I am giving the matter serious consideration and I will see to it, if possible, that a stronger Garda presence will be provided in rural Ireland.

Perhaps the Minister is missing the point. I understand that while in Opposition he consistently called for the reopening of stations in rural areas, but is that still his policy? Does he intend to maintain that policy?

I have told the Deputy that I still believe in that, as I did while in Opposition. I have not changed. If there has been a change in tactics it is on the part of the Opposition. I still believe in a strong Garda presence and I am doing something constructive to achieve it. As quickly as I possibly can, I am increasing the number of men available to the Commissioner for deployment throughout the country. We have some extra men already but they are being placed in areas where there is the greatest need for them. When we have the extra men the question of deploying them in rural areas will receive the consideration it deserves.

I should not like to think the Minister is evading the issue, but I have been asking him about re-opening rural Garda stations.

The Deputy has asked that question already.

But it has not been answered. Will the Minister give me a "yes" or "no"?

I am very much in favour of having a strong Garda presence throughout the country. I cannot do what the Deputy wants me to do at the moment because of the way his party, while in Government, prevented the availability of manpower in the way they did.

How much money have the Government spent on this matter since they came to office—how much more overtime have they paid?

I am sympathetic to the view that there is a need for a greater Garda presence throughout the country. There is need for careful consideration to be given to the re-opening of Garda stations in rural areas.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Sympathy is not enough: it is actions that count.

It will not take me four-and-a-half years to do something worthwhile in this area.

The time for consideration has gone.