I raise the Garda Commissioner's decision to remove a chief superintendent from Tipperary as part of its amalgamation with Clare. Unfortunately, we are seeing a very significant increase in crime in our county. In the last week or ten days, representatives from community groups in four towns - Ballina, Nenagh, Thurles and Cashel - have reported very significant increases in antisocial behaviour. The activity of rural gangs is again on the increase. One constituent whose house has been called to three times is now sleeping in an outhouse for fear of her private dwelling being broken into. She feels she would be able to make an escape from an outhouse so as not to be held captive in her own home. Taking a chief superintendent out of a county is definitely not the way to increase resources. We need extra Garda resources in Tipperary. A county of our size needs and deserves its own chief superintendent.

As we both know, Tipperary is a very large county geographically and has benefited from increased Garda resources in recent years. I agree with the Deputy that more will be necessary. He can be confident that will be the case. The number of people going through Templemore is going to increase very significantly in the coming months. I cannot comment on the issue of the chief superintendent directly. It is probably a matter for the Garda Commissioner rather than the Minister for Justice but I will alert the Minister to the fact that it was raised here today and perhaps she can contact the Deputy directly.