With regard to the efficiency and effectiveness of the operation of the Garda Síochána I would like to ask the Minister a few brief questions. Has he any plans to extend the training period for Garda recruits in the training centre at Templemore? Will he increase the level of in force training for existing gardaí, because I believe it is vitally important that the level of training and expertise be reviewed on an ongoing basis within the force? Has the Minister any plans to remove from the duty roster of gardaí irrelevant duties like collecting dog licences, collecting statistics and other duties which are not at all relevant to the operation of the Garda so that gardaí may be released for the more important task of policing? I consider these questions to be relevant in terms of the question tabled.

Perhaps I should have ruled the question out of order at the beginning. The Deputy must realise that this question is very wide and one on which many aspects of policing and security could be raised and that if I did not intervene we could be here until 10.30 this evening without having exhausted all the issues that could be raised. Therefore, it is not a suitable matter for dealing with at Question Time.

How, then, are we to elicit the information?

An Estimate debate is the only forum I can think of at present.

The Chair must be aware that not one but at least four independent inquiries in relation to Garda efficiency and effectiveness have been undertaken.

We could continue in this vein for 100 days without exploring all these various aspects.

I wish to focus particularly on the question raised by Deputy Hyland.

(Limerick East): The Deputy is making points but I will not be allowed reply.

Deputy O'Kennedy has come in towards the end of Question Time and is disrupting the proceedings. He is not in order.

Am I not entitled to ask a supplementary?

Only if the supplementary is relevant, but the Deputy is not entitled to make speeches. I do not wish to have any unpleasantness but if I did not raise my voice I would simply be walked over.

I speak in a low tone also and I am only addressing you in relation to your response to Deputy Hyland. In view of the fact that almost every inquiry into Garda effectiveness and efficiency has been addressed specifically to Garda training, should you not allow Deputy Hyland's question, which, I submit, is entirely relevant?

I wish Deputy O'Kennedy would leave this to me. I intervened on Deputy Hyland's three questions to point out the unsuitability of Question Time for dealing with such a very broad subject. I am not prepared to spend all evening on this question.

(Limerick East): As Deputy Hyland is aware, the Commissioner, with my approval, has set up an expert committee of educationalists and personnel people to advise him on Garda training. It is my intention that a new Garda recruitment campaign will begin some time in the autumn and the new training scheme will apply to those recruited at that time.

Regarding the duration of the training period, I am informed that the committee are dealing with the question of what the appropriate training requirements of the Garda would be and that when they have established the range of skills considered appropriate they will incorporate that into the appropriate module of time. Obviously, an extension of time will be involved, but until such time as I receive the committee's report I cannot say what extra time will be involved. I agree that there should be an increase in the level of service training. That is another aspect the committee are considering. The matter is ongoing and Deputies should not be under the impression that there is not a large amount of in-service training. Only two weeks ago I presented certificates to 30 members of the Garda, the Army and the Revenue staff who had completed a course set up by the US agency who are responsible for drug regulations enforcement. The course, which was of a number of weeks' duration, was provided by the American Government in their international campaign in the fight against drug abuse. A whole range of in-service courses are in progress all the time at Templemore, but that is another matter being examined by the committee.

Regarding the third question, sometimes there is an argument about what irrelevant duties are in the context of the Garda. I agree with the general thrust of the question and I should be happier if some of the duties undertaken by the Garda could be passed on to someone else; but in the absence of that someone else to undertake these duties, they will remain the responsibility of the Garda. So far as dog licences, for instances, are concerned, I suspect that only a small proportion of the dog population is licensed, so the Garda are not involved very much in collecting the fees. However if, say, a child is attacked by a dog, the matter becomes very much the responsibility of the Garda. The focus of attention changes. It has been said that the Garda should be involved more in the fight against crime and involved less in traffic related duties. Last year about 27 murders were committed in the country while almost 500 people were killed on the roads. Very often the question is one of where the public focus is at any time but I agree with the spirit of the suggestion.