Dublin West is being policed on a shoestring. Despite being one of the busiest districts in the country, we are struggling with dangerously low Garda numbers. Blanchardstown, Finglas, Cabra and the K district have just one garda per 529 people and recorded 8,200 crimes last year, while Ronanstown and Lucan, which are in the Q district, have one garda for every 394 people and recorded 4,200 incidents. In one year, DMR south central gained 60 gardaí, yet our division, DMR west, lost 15. DMR west also includes Citywest where the recent violent disorder took place. In the most recent allocation, it got seven gardaí and we got five gardaí. Meanwhile, Dún Laoghaire received 20 gardaí, Dundrum 12 gardaí and Blackrock eight gardaí. In total, the entire K district has received just 16 new gardaí this year compared to 45 last year. Yes, I know it is a Garda Commissioner decision but if the policy framework is leaving particular communities behind, that policy becomes a political issue too.

The time is up. An Taoiseach to respond.

There is no policy framework leaving anyone behind, let us be frank about it. It is an operational issue for the Garda Commissioner. The policy framework is to dramatically increase recruitment into An Garda Síochána and training in Templemore, and that is happening. We had the biggest intake into Templemore recently with 220 recruits. Some 200 have also graduated. What is happening is that, progressively, bigger numbers are being allocated to particular areas to deal with those areas rather than allocating smaller numbers all over the place. That policy has had an impact in the city of Dublin. There is far greater visibility and a greater sense of safety in the city centre. That is being done now in other centres across the country. I will alert the Commissioner to the Deputy's concerns but I have no doubt that as the numbers increase, the numbers will increase in DMR west as well. The strategy is working but it is time and patience. That is the issue really.