asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí recruited in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The number of gardaí recruited to the force during the 12 months ended 30 April 1986 was 264.

Could I ask the Minister if he has an assessment of the needs of the Garda force for the current year, whether he has requests from any of the divisions around the country because of shortages in manpower and if he would comment on the level of staffing of the Garda generally in this connection?

I wish to remind the House that the national plan provides that the strength of the Garda force will be kept at 11,400 during the period 1985-87. That is the highest strength that we have had for a number of years. I do not think it would be proper for me to discuss here requests from various Garda divisions for different levels of manpower. Within the overall strength, which, as I have said, will remain at 11,400, the deployment of manpower resources is a matter for the Garda authorities.

What is the figure at present? Is it 11,400?

On 31 December 1985 the figure was 11,396. On 30 April 1986 it was 11,343. It fluctuates up or down around that figure. I cannot guarantee that the figure will be 11,400 every day.