I call Deputy Gilmore.

Everyone was shocked during the week at the death of Mr. Paddy Barry, an elderly pensioner in Waterford, following a burglary in his home. We all wish to sympathise with his family. Out of respect for them and because I understand a file is being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, I do not wish to focus on that individual case. However, it brings into focus the fear and apprehension experienced by many elderly people, particularly those who are living alone, in the face of the kind of anti-social behaviour such as groups of youths who are out of control and criminal activity. Many are afraid in their own homes and in their communities. This fear would have been added to during the week by reports that one in seven of the prison population is now out on temporary release, a total of 600 prisoners who have been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and who are now out and about, largely because the Government has made a mess of the provision of prison places.

In that context I recall in my own constituency the closure five years ago of Shanganagh prison. This was a facility for young male offenders which was closed down by the Government. I would ask the Government to reopen it but it would be unable to do so because it sold the prison to a developer. It was reflected in last night's "Prime Time" programme that one of the measures which reduces fear for people who are living alone, particularly elderly people, is a visible presence of gardaí, particularly in their local community.

The McCarthy report recommends the closure of half of the Garda stations in the country, the closure of approximately 350 small Garda stations. I understand there are 22 such stations in the Tánaiste's own county. I have one simple question for the Tánaiste which I think might go some way towards alleviating people's fear. Will she give the House an assurance that those 350 Garda stations will not be closed, that the recommendation will be rejected and that there will not be closure of the small Garda stations throughout the country?

I wish to express the Government's sympathy to the Barry family because this was a terrible tragedy. As Deputy Gilmore has correctly stated, the issues he has raised are not within the context of one specific tragedy. However, he referred to temporary releases and prison places. Since 1997 this Government has provided an additional 1,400 places and by the end of this year, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will have provided an additional 450 prison places——

And the criminals to go with them.

The McCarthy report proposals regarding the closure of 350 Garda stations would provide a saving of €1 million. No decisions have been made on any of the McCarthy proposals. They are all being considered in the context of the budgetary discussions currently under way. Therefore, I am not in a position to give an assurance, one way or the other, as to what will happen with regard to the McCarthy proposals. However, the new model of community policing which was announced by the Minister at the beginning of the year, is working well. We started a process of taking gardaí out of stations and putting them on the beat rather than doing clerical work. This process is progressive and is significant. The Garda Commissioner has been very enthusiastic about providing a visible presence of members of the force. I must reiterate what the Commissioner said in the context of the terrible tragedy in Waterford during the week, namely that he is anxious that the people who are aware of issues should support the gardaí.

Additional places have been provided and a new model of community policing has been set up by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In the context of the McCarthy report all these issues are being considered by the Government but no decisions have been made.

My question was specifically about the Garda stations. I note that the Tánaiste is not giving the House any assurance that those Garda stations will not be closed.

Last night, the "Prime Time" television programme showed the degree to which people throughout the country are apprehensive. This is a problem of fear. People are afraid. One of the things which would alleviate the fear is an assurance from the Government that their local Garda station will not be closed down.

There is a recommendation that small Garda stations in villages and local communities throughout the country should be closed down. The Tánaiste should categorically rule out the closure of those Garda stations. I see the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is providing the Tánaiste with a prompt to do so.

I appreciate that there is a financial difficulty but where is the sense in closing 350 Garda stations to make a saving of €1 million? One could save €1 million by abolishing two ministers of state——

Or the head of FÁS.

——and leaving the 350 Garda stations that would provide a far greater comfort for people who are fearful in their homes.

This recommendation is nonsense. Everyone knows the presence of gardaí in local communities contributes to the prevention of crime, reassures people and is a visible presence of gardaí. It does not make sense to close these Garda stations, particularly when the saving is so small.

If this were a big question about some of the major recommendations in the McCarthy report I would understand the Tánaiste saying the Government is reflecting on the matter and has not yet made a decision, and so on. This is an issue the Tánaiste could put to bed now. She should reassure people that local Garda stations will not be closed and that she will find the million euro savings from elsewhere in the State's budget.

It is important to reiterate that Garda numbers are at an all-time high, with 14,800.

And no students.

We have 2,600 civilians and 600 students in Templemore. Therefore the Garda force is at an all-time high. On the issue of the McCarthy report——

On Garda stations.

No students, no stations to put them in and no guards.

It is proposed that €1 million should be saved on Garda stations. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in consultation with the Garda Commissioner, will deal with those issues. If the Government decides this is not an appropriate action the million euro will be found elsewhere. There are many recommendations in the McCarthy report which do not make sense.

It will be a matter for the Government to make a decision on how to find the appropriate savings to deal with the country's economic and financial difficulties. I am sure Opposition Members will be constructive in their proposals as to where we will find savings of €4 billion.