asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the grave dissatisfaction expressed at the annual general meeting of the Donegal branch of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors concerning the administration of the force, and their many grievances including (i) the fact that 12 permanent Chief Superintendents have served in the division in the past 15 years, excluding temporary appointments during this period, and (ii) the delay on the part of the Office of Public Works in maintaining station and official accommodation.

I would not consider it helpful or in the interests of the force to engage in any public controversy with branches of the Garda Representative Associations concerning such matters as the assignment of senior Garda officers—officers who, of course, are not members of the association in question—and whose assignment is a managerial function. If an association has any grievances about aspects of the administration of the force there are established means by which any such grievances can be communicated to the Garda authorities or to me.

As regards the maintenance of stations and official accommodation, this is a matter which is dealt with through direct contact between local Garda officers and local officers of the Office of Public Works and I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no general cause for complaint about the maintenance service provided in this area. I do not say there is never cause for complaint. There may on occasions be a delay in having a particular maintenance job carried out and it could be because of some slip up somewhere but usually where there is a delay there is a valid reason for it.

Does the Minister consider it consistent with good security measures to have 12 Chief Superintendents within a period of 15 years in County Donegal? That figure does not take into consideration the temporary appointments made.

The Deputy has missed the thrust of my reply which was to the effect that the assignment of senior Garda officers, who are not members of the association who spoke about this matter, is done by the Commissioner. It is a managerial and not a ministerial function. If there is dissatisfaction the matter should be taken up by the association with management. I understand from Garda Headquarters that no complaints or representations were received by the Commissioner or by the Donegal divisional officer from the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors about grievances or dissatisfaction with the administration of the force.

I asked the Minister if he considered this consistent with good security measures. The Minister should not put words in my mouth.

I would not dare to try to put anything into the Deputy's mouth. I am assured by Garda Headquarters that there is no reason to believe that the force is operating other than at a high level of efficiency in County Donegal.

I accept that completely. No reflection is intended on the quality of the Chief Superintendents who have been stationed there, but I should like to know how this compares with other Garda Chief Superintendents' divisions.

The Commissioner has reported that the allocation of senior officers to the Donegal division is determined by factors which appear, in the judgment of the Commissioner, to be relevant to the situation.

That is not an answer to my question.

The Deputy is arguing and not accepting anything. I am calling the next question.

Why is the Minister using civil service jargon to get himself out of this difficulty?

If the Deputy puts down a question on this matter I will give him the information.

The Minister is saying that he does not know and does not care. He is not concerned about the Garda force in Donegal. He has not the slightest interest.