asked the Minister for Justice the reason the Garda sergeant in Collon, County Louth, has not been replaced; and if there are any proposals to close down the station there.

The detailed allocation of manpower to individual stations is a matter for the Garda authorities who inform me that a sergeant cannot at present be made available for Collon having regard to overall Garda commitments throughout the whole Louth-Meath Garda Division. However, the question of appointing a sergeant to the station will be considered when additional sergeants become available from the promotion competition currently in progress.

There are no proposals to close Collon Garda station.

Is the Minister aware that Collon Garda station was the station to which the late Sergeant Morrissey was attached when he was killed by an IRA murder gang? Is the Minister aware also that that station is the only one open between Ardee and Navan, covering a wide area? Furthermore, is he aware of the high proportion of armed robberies that take place within that area? Can the Minister give a categoric assurance that the Garda station will not be closed in the future?

I might reiterate that there are no proposals to close Collon Garda station.

Can the Minister explain why there have been no promotions in the Louth-Meath Garda Division despite the fact that the third highest incidence of crime in the country is in that area? Can the Minister give a timescale within which the people of Collon can expect the appointment of a sergeant to their station?

Generally Collon is a fairly peaceful place.

Sergeant Morrissey paid the supreme sacrifice.

I know. That was a special type of crime but, generally, it is peaceful. For example, the number of crimes committed in the area in the nine months of 1988 to date is reported at 14 and the number of those detected to date is nine. I understand that the person responsible for most of them was charged recently. In relation to the appointment of a sergeant, I should say there are vacancies for sergeants in the Louth-Meath Garda Division——

There are vacancies all over the country.

——and throughout the country. It is intended that a number of promotions to sergeant rank will be made following the current competition. This will be a matter for the Garda Síochána themselves.

Would the Minister accept that, because of our geographic location and proximity to the Border, we have a high incidence of terrorist-related crimes? Does he not consider it imperative that a sergeant be appointed to Collon station?

This is a matter for the Garda Síochána.

Deputies Colley and S. Barrett rose.

This question refers to a particular Garda station at Collon in County Louth.

The Minister has indicated that this is a matter for the Garda Síochána. Would the Minister not agree that he is being less than honest — I had better be careful what I say here; I do not want to accuse the Minister of telling lies or anything like that — in giving that type of answer because the Garda Síochána can act only in accordance with the policies laid down by the Minister and the Government? Would he not agree that it is the fault of the Government that 190 vacancies at sergeant level exist within the Garda Síochána, of which only 50 have been approved by this Government? Is it not unreasonable and unfair of him — speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice — to indicate that this is a matter for the Garda Síochána when they can do nothing about it?

We are having a widening of the scope of this question which refers to a particular Garda station.

When I said it was a matter for the Garda Síochána, I meant within that particular area, that is the Louth-Meath Garda Division. However, overall the number of promotions proposed is 50.

There are 190 vacancies altogether.

There are 50 being appointed at this stage.

Would the Minister agree that the Louth-Meath Garda Division administration is suffering due to the fact that the divisional superintendent is not situated in divisional headquarters but is located in Dundalk and is engaged on special security duties? Would he agree that this means that there is nobody with full responsibility administering that division when obviously there will be difficulties encountered in the area as a result?