In the programme for Government a commitment was given to ensuring a strong and visible policing force in every community. However, in Cavan-Monaghan we have seen a surge in crime. It has increased by 36%, with over 483 burglaries last year. Only in the last month we have seen horrific, callous aggravated burglaries committed against the elderly, one of who was held at gunpoint in my constituency. The Garda did a fantastic job in apprehending these criminals. However, the Garda in my constituency are working with very stretched, minimal resources and is without the full complement of manpower it deserves. At the recent Garda Representative Association, GRA, conference real concerns were expressed about Garda policing in the Border region in the context of Brexit looming. There was a call for over 1,000 gardaí to be stationed in the area, with over 200 potential border crossings in the Cavan-Monaghan area alone.

Will the Taoiseach give a commitment to the concerns of gardaí relating to the manpower and the resources that are badly needed in that area?

A week ago this evening, in Cahersiveen, more than 500 people attended a meeting on the same issue, looking for their Garda station to be manned and open 24 hours a day and looking for more gardaí to address anti-social behaviour, which recently culminated in a murder in their town. The Taoiseach said in the programme for Government that he would open six new Garda stations. I am calling for him to open the ones that were closed full time. They are open in name, but they are not open for 24 hours a day. Along the coastline from Kenmare to Cahersiveen to Killorglin, Garda numbers are way down. People are looking for Cahirsiveen Garda station to be manned 24 hours a day, and they are looking for the return of their superintendent. Even their superintendent was taken from them.

I acknowledge the importance of the issues raised by the Deputies. I stress that unprecedented funding has been made available by the Government to An Garda Síochána - a sum in excess of €1.6 billion. I acknowledge the valid point raised by Deputy Smyth in respect of Border policing. I visited the Border recently and had an opportunity to discuss the issue with local gardaí.

In reply to Deputy Healy-Rae, the Government's ambition is to have 21,000 members of An Garda Síochána in service in three years. We are on target to achieve that. I look forward to attending a passing-out ceremony in Templemore next Friday, which will result in another 200 highly ambitious, energetic and well-trained gardaí entering service. Having regard to the fact that it is the Garda Commissioner's job to disburse An Garda Síochána's numbers throughout the country, it is both fair and reasonable to suggest that some of these new members will be stationed in Kerry and in Cavan-Monaghan.