asked the Minister for Justice if a Garda recruitment campaign will be undertaken this year; the position of people who sat the preliminary examination this year; and the number of gardaí in the force at the present time.

As I indicated here on 12 June, in the course of the debate on the Garda Síochána Estimate, I am not in a position at this stage to indicate when the next Garda recruitment competition is likely to be held. The matter will be fully considered when the Garda Estimate for 1988 is being prepared and a public announcement will be made as soon as a date for the competition has been decided.

It is not clear what preliminary examination the Deputy is referring to but, if the question refers to the position of persons who completed application forms at local Garda stations this year, the situation is that all applications made to the Garda authorities have been transmitted to the Civil Service Commissioners who will be in touch with each applicant when the next competition is announced. The strength of the Garda Síochána on 31 May 1987 was 11,279.

There can be no doubt that the Garda are doing an excellent job combating serious crime and it is vitally important that their numbers are maintained and that their presence on the ground is also maintained. Because of the serious cut backs in overtime, they are notably absent especially in the Border towns. Is it not vitally important that their presence be maintained by extra recruitment?

I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that he is satisfied the level of attention given by the Garda, not alone in Border counties but in all Garda divisions, is quite satisfactory.

Will the Minister agree there is a need to deploy civilians to carry out certain Garda activities because there is a very low level of civil participation at the moment? Does he intend extending powers to traffic wardens to deal with some matters which are currently dealt with by the Garda Síochána? Does he intend implementing any of the recommendations of the Garda training——

The Deputy is going outside the subject matter of this question.

I answered the first part of the Deputy's supplementary during the Estimate debate. If she tables a separate question on the second part of her supplementary I will give her the information she requires.

In October?

If the Deputy drops me a note she will have an answer by return.

The young people who made applications are in limbo because they do not know if they will be called. Will they be notified and told exactly what is the position or should they look for work elsewhere?

I think the Deputy misunderstands how the system operates. There is no competition being organised at present. The last competition was organised early in 1983 and we have taken on the final set of successful trainees who are at present training at Templemore. Hopefully, towards the end of the year or early next year the decision of the Government with regard to a future competition will be announced. Nobody who called to a Garda station over the past 12 months should hold out any hope of being called this year because he or she cannot be called until the recruitment campaign starts.

In view of the success of the previous Government in reducing the crime rate, will the Minister give a guarantee that if statistics show there is any increase in the crime rate, he will review his policy in relation to Garda recruitment and recommence recruitment immediately?

I compliment the Garda Síochána on their success in dealing with the crime rate in recent years, and I am sure all Members will join with me in expressing our hope that they will be even more successful in the future.

Deputy Barrett will agree we are not prepared to accept the present level of crime and we wish the Garda every success in the future in their efforts to reduce the level of crime.