asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí working in the Dublin Metropolitan area who are of Dublin origin.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that records are not maintained in a way that would enable this information to be readily provided. Compilation of this information would require the diversion of gardaí from more pressing duties, for a disproportionate amount of time, which would not be justified.

I am not surprised the Minister has not got this type of information available to him. Meaning no disrespect to any other county, but if there is a preponderance of Dublin men with accents like mine operating as gardaí in Cork, it might cause some alienation. Will the Minister ensure, as best he can, that gardaí located in the Dublin Metropolitan Area can relate to the people they serve and that, by and large, they come from that region?

First, in regard to the difficulties the Deputy foresees in regard to gardaí with Dublin accents in Cork I can assure the Deputy and the House that it is ever so easy to become familiar with the Cork accent; indeed it is ever so easy to acquire a Cork accent. With regard to who decides who goes where, the Deputy knows that is a matter entirely for the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána but I will convey the Deputy's views on the subject to the Commissioner.

Will the Minister ensure there is no prejudice against Garda personnel from the country operating in Dublin? In view of the fact that this is Millennium year in Dublin, is the "Are you there, Moriarty?" concept to be struck from Deputy Mitchell's remarks?

Dublin for the Dubliners? I doubt that.

The serious intent of the question is this, to ensure that the Garda force relate to the community. There is a serious community relations problem in many areas, not merely in relation to the region from which members of the Garda emanate, but is the Minister aware also that there are very few gardaí operating in Dublin who have come from lower socio-economic groups? For example, I do not believe that in the whole of the 600 flats at St. Teresa's Gardens, the 600 at Fatima Mansions — indeed one could throw in Dolphin House in Bridgefoot Street — out of probably a total of 2,000 flat units there has ever been one garda recruit or staff member.

The Deputy is injecting new matter into the question.

Will the Minister agree that it is in the interests of good community relations that the Garda identify with the people they serve? Further, will he ensure that people from the lower socio-economic groups get their fair share when selections are made in the near future?

I am more than satisfied that the Garda experience little or no difficulty in operating successfully among the people they protect in the different parts of the city of Dublin. Indeed, looking around this House at the number of Deputies who are not from Dublin but who represent Dublin people, proves what I am saying. With regard to other matters, particularly in relation to persons being admitted for trainee garda, I should say there is the Civil Service Commission competition organised for people who want to enter the Garda Síochána. There are minimum requirements laid down and we will be dealing with that in a later question today. There is no ban on anybody from any section of society from membership of the Garda Síochána.