I call Deputy Noel Grealish to speak on behalf of the Rural Independent Group.

As I am sure the Tánaiste is aware, morale within An Garda Síochána is at an all-time low. This is due to the fact that in the past ten years gardaí have experienced massive cuts and reductions in numbers. The recruitment ban, which has been in place for more than seven years, resulted in very few new recruits to keep up their numbers. This has led to a level of anger and frustration within the force which we have never seen before. We have gardaí in Dublin living in cramped and unsuitable conditions because they cannot pay for a decent place to stay. Some are even sleeping in their cars because they cannot afford a place to live. The price of accommodation has gone through the roof. I am not blaming the Tánaiste for all of this. This has been building up over the past ten years. The massive reduction in numbers has put more pressure on gardaí, and their workload has further increased with the closure of many stations around the country. Promotions have been delayed leading to a feeling of injustice among members of the force who have put in the long hours and dedicated their lives to serving the public in a professional manner.

There is also the huge issue for many Dublin based gardaí in particular of transfers that are not happening. They are gardaí from around the country who have spent maybe ten years or more in Dublin and there was always the understanding that after five, six or seven years, they would be allowed to move back nearer home. I know of one case of a young garda who has had his wedding planned for ages but cannot go ahead with it because he cannot afford to. He needs to get out of Dublin because he has been there for 15 years. He is entitled to a transfer. The reason why gardaí have not been transferred is that we did not get enough new gardaí coming in. It is very frustrating and heartbreaking for the gardaí who want to move so they can settle down and get on with their lives. Every time the lists come out, they are not on it. I appreciate that not every garda who wants to move can be facilitated straight away but we need to get morale back into An Garda Síochána again and this is one issue that has been brought to my attention several times.

There are other contentious issues such as the fact patrol cars have not been replaced over the years which hampers gardaí in carrying out their duties. New entrants into An Garda Síochána have also had their pay drastically cut. Bail laws have seen criminals with a string of previous convictions released to offend again. It all adds up to the feeling there is within the force today. While I do not agree with them going on strike, I understand the frustration and anger there is at the moment within the ranks. These are the people who protect us. They also protect the Tánaiste and we should be looking after them better so they can continue to do so effectively. I acknowledge the Tánaiste is trying to make improvements in terms of extra manpower and vehicles. I blame successive Governments for the situation which is now coming to a boiling point within An Garda Síochána. Will the Tánaiste assure the House that serious steps will be taken to address the issues I have raised?

I thank the Deputy. Gardaí, like so many others in this country, suffered hugely during the period of economic difficulty. There is no question about that. Recruitment and investment were stopped. There was no investment in the resources they needed. There was no investment in IT or Garda vehicles and there was no recruitment. That has had an impact. What this Government, the last Government and I have done since I became Minister for Justice and Equality is focused on ensuring we can invest in An Garda Síochána. We have been able to do that because we have a recovering economy and an unemployment rate down to 7.7%, thanks to the prudent management we have had. That should impact on Garda morale. There are issues on pay which we are trying to resolve. As I have said on many occasions, I want us to be fair to An Garda Síochána but I also want us to be fair to other public sector workers and the taxpayer who funds the kind of services we want to provide in this country and to the community as a whole. We want to support gardaí to do a better job because what they do is critical. They take risks every day when they go out and many have lost their lives. We want to support An Garda Síochána in this country to do their work professionally and effectively. That is what I have been trying to do.

I want to put it on the record of the House that thousands of people still apply to be members of An Garda Síochána. Each recruitment campaign we have had has seen thousands of young people apply to become members of the force. That tells us something. There is now a recruitment process that will ensure we have 15,000 members of An Garda Síochána. That will enable us to do better community policing.

The Deputy raised the issue of transfers. Of course, there cannot be transfers if there is no recruitment but now recruitment has started again. I am very conscious that it impacts on families and individuals if they are not able to get transfers. That is an operational issue for the Garda Commissioner. If we are recruiting, which we are, and new members are coming in, those kinds of issues can be dealt with more effectively within the force.

As I said earlier, I appreciate the Tánaiste is doing her best to improve the situation but the improvements cannot come fast enough. There is a huge number of gardaí out there who are simply not enjoying going to work. We need to pick up morale again within An Garda Síochána and we need to resource and finance it properly. Gardaí need to know they have the support of this Government.

On the bail laws, the Tánaiste is proposing to bring in changes which the Government has undertaken to fast track. I am hoping this will come in before the Christmas recess.

I am aware of a case in my constituency in which the Garda spent weeks surveilling a gang that was carrying out burglaries. The gang was apprehended and brought before the courts, but they were let out again and re-offended. That is bringing down morale in An Garda Síochána. I again urge the Tánaiste to continue the improvements, resource the Garda properly and give gardaí the proper financial support they require. Will the Tánaiste also outline what she proposes to do about the bail laws to stop these people being released to offend again?

With regard to repeat offenders, I have already brought forward much stronger legislation to provide that those who are involved in serial and repeat burglaries will serve consecutive sentences. I expect that will be, and is being, implemented by the courts. That legislation was passed quickly by the House and received all-party support. I thank Members for that. The bail Bill which will be published later in this term will provide for the use of electronic tagging and will give the Garda more power to request electronic tagging. It will also provide for more severe penalties for those who break bail conditions. It will be strong legislation to deter repeat offenders and to ensure the community is protected from those who would seek to commit crime.

With regard to the Garda, if the strike goes ahead the various units that will be available have been outlined. They will include the emergency response unit, the regional support units, the protection and national surveillance units, the special detective units, the intelligence sections and the drugs units. The Garda associations are working with the Garda Commissioner to ensure, if the strike goes ahead, that the public gets a basic policing service and that their safety is guaranteed as much as possible in the current situation.