asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline the number of additional gardaí recruited in 1988, at all levels; the net changes in the composition of the force in 1988; and his plans for recruitment in 1989.

There has been no recruitment to the force during 1988. As the Deputy is probably aware, a recruitment competition is at present in progress, from which a total of 1,000 appointments are due to be made over the three year period 1989, 1990 and 1991.

The intention is that approximately 300 garda trainees will be appointed during 1989, on the basis that the first intake of approximately 75 successful candidates should commence training in Templemore Training Centre in April 1989 and that there should be a further intake of around the same number every three months thereafter.

The changes in the numbers in the force in 1988 are shown in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

Following is the statement.

Changes in Composition of the Force 1 January 1988 to 31 October 1988.

*It should be noted that 19 Inspectors who were promoted to the rank of Superintendent with effect from 4 November are not included in these returns.

The Minister's reply states that no new recruits were taken on in the current year but before the new recruits are trained, a period of almost two years will have elapsed before the vacancies in the force due to retirements and deaths are replaced. The 300 new gardaí who will replace those who have retired will hardly make up the loss of numbers in the force. Surely, the Minister is aware of the very serious situation where crime is on the increase, not just in this city but in every town and village, and in rural areas in the country? Further, is the Minister aware that in County Wicklow the Garda strength in the barracks, which has been reduced considerably over the years, is totally inadequate for the level of crime in the county? We not only have our own quota of wrong-doers but we have to meet the problems caused by unsavoury visitors from the city. Over the years hundreds of thousands of decent people have visited Wicklow from the city but, unfortunately because it is near a very large population area a number of unsavoury characters are coming down and causing depredation. This problem not only applies to my own county, but to——

I want to help the Deputy to elicit information, but I must dissuade him from making a speech.

I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, but I am trying to make the point that it seems a little tardy of the Minister to replace the numbers only now, and that not only is the total number of 1,000 appointments inadequate but the figure of 300 garda trainees to be appointed during 1989 is also totally inadequate.

Most of the points made by Deputy Kavanagh were taken into consideration at the time the Government decided to go ahead with the recruitment campaign which is at present underway. I am sure the Deputy recognises that the filling of vacancies in the Garda Síochána cannot be considered in isolation from overall Government policy on public service numbers generally.