The Daíl has heard that the Garda Síochana, like every other public sector body, will have to manage with reduced resources.

Minister John Perry made the comments in response to a parliamentary question by Galway East TD Michael Kitt regarding reduced Garda resources in Galway.

Following the retirement of Gardaí the personnel strength of the Galway division now stands at 585.

The county policing committee heard this week that while overall crime has dropped by 46 percent, there was a 17 percent increase in the number of burglaries.

Those figures are based on the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year.

Speaking in the Daíl, Deputy Kitt says there are serious concerns about the reduction of Gardaí and the closure of Garda stations in rural areas