Before I call on Senator Kelleher, I welcome Seán O'Gorman from the Abbey School, Tipperary. He is on transition year work experience with Senator Kelleher this week. I hope he enjoys his time here.

Ba mhaith liom rud éigin a rá mar gheall ar líon na ngardaí i gCorcaigh go háirithe. On previous occasions, I have listened to the Leader speak about disproportionate capital investment in the Northern and Western Regional Assembly area. I have made the same point in relation to the Southern Regional Assembly area. When compared to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly area, this area receives disproportionate capital investment, which is very important for infrastructure. The allocation of gardaí in our areas is also very important. With regard to the recent announcement of probationary gardaí to be allocated around the country, while it is fantastic to be in a position to welcome the successful passing out of 168 probationary gardaí from the Garda College in Templemore, it is concerning that a disproportionately high number of those 168 gardaí have been allocated to the Dublin metropolitan area. Cork city and county, the population of which accounts for about 11% of the overall population of the country, received an allocation of five probationary gardaí, two for the city area and three in the county. The two in the city are to be based in Togher and Gurranabraher and, of the three for the county, two are going to Midleton and one to Mallow. If Cork were to receive a proportionate share of the probationary gardaí, it would receive 18 or 19. By comparison, Dublin received 62% of the overall allocation when its population is less than 30% of the country's overall population. The Cork Development Forum recently visited Leinster House. The group commented on how great a visible Garda presence is for confidence in the city centre in Cork and in businesses in the city. We need more gardaí in Cork. All we are asking for is our proportionate share.