The programme for Government gives a commitment to strengthening Garda numbers to tackle crime. We have a huge issue at present in the Clonmel Garda district, which includes Carrick-on-Suir. The Tánaiste is probably aware there is a huge issue with mental health issues and associated drug crime. It is an epidemic and is leading to many suicides. The community there is calling for action. Sergeant Mick Hubbard, Garda Pat Kelly and others in Carrick-on-Suir are doing their utmost but they do not have the numbers, nor does Clonmel have the numbers to help them out. We need the drugs squad in Tipperary to be beefed up. In addition, up to 1,000 gardaí are doing civilian work in the Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, has said the Garda will replace those with civilians and let trained gardaí out on the streets. We need the numbers. Deputy Calleary raised the issue of Drogheda and Longford and we will be as bad as that, if we are not as bad now. We need immediate action, not firefighting afterwards, and we need to support the gardaí who are there.

I answered quite a detailed question on Garda resources earlier, when Deputy Calleary raised the issues in Longford and Drogheda. The Government is providing funds to raise the number of gardaí to 15,000, which will give the Commissioner a lot more human resources to allocate to the kinds of challenges the Deputy raises. That, combined with the reforms that are under way in regard to policing, particularly community policing and civilianisation of many Garda stations, will ensure we can get trained gardaí out and into the community to increase the Garda presence. All of that is under way and I hope we will be able to make an impact in places like Carrick-on-Suir and elsewhere.