asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the continued vandalisation of public telephone kiosks and the consequent serious inconvenience to the public, he will establish a special corps within the Garda Síochána with the specific duty of patrolling and looking after this vital service.

The precise measures to be taken to deal with particular categories of crime are matters for the professional judgment of the Garda authorities. They report that, while they are aware of the serious inconvenience arising from the incidence of malicious damage to public telephone kiosks, they do not consider that the establishment of a special corps to deal with the matter is warranted, having regard to other demands on Garda services.

Gardaí on both foot and mobile patrols keep a check on public telephone kiosks and they will continue to give the matter as much attention as possible.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, is he aware of the frustration suffered by the public in trying to contact doctors and other emergency services and finding telephone after telephone out of order due to vandalism? Taking that into consideration would the Minister inform me what steps he is prepared to take to protect this vital service?

I have already said that the Garda did not consider the establishment of a special corps to deal with the problem because of other more serious crime which they are trying to combat.

Does that mean it is being considered?

No.

Surely it is the Minister's responsibility to protect public property. What I am asking the Minister is what steps he is prepared to take to protect public property.

I repeat to the Deputy in case he did not get it——

I did get it, but I am not happy with it any more than he is happy with the telephone services.

Gardaí on both foot and mobile patrols keep a check on public telephones and they will continue to give the matter as much attention as they possibly can. The Deputy will probably be glad to hear that the numbers of cases reported are levelling off.

That is because people cannot get through on the telephone.

If Deputy Cosgrave is not going to be allowed to get the information he wants well then he can talk to his colleagues.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.