Minister Alex White denied a lack of Garda resources was responsible for the incident in which two prison officers were stabbed by a prisoner escaping custody.

The prisoner, Derek Brockwell, was recaptured by police outside a pub in Belfast city centre on Wednesday.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who was taking Opposition Leaders' Questions for the Government, was replying in the Dáil to Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins.

Mr White said he agreed with Taoiseach Enda Kenny there was no evidence or basis for the assumption that the incident occurred because of a lack of resources. “There is no evidence to support such a proposition.’’

Mr White said what was involved was an operational matter for An Garda Siochána, in the first instance in this jurisdiction, and for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, who, he understood, had custody of the individual concerned.

“In these circumstances it would not be appropriate, nor is it possible, for me to comment on any aspect of the incident. They must be allowed to get on with the work they do so well and professionally on our behalf.’’

Cutbacks

Mr Collins said that bearing in mind the past record of the individual concerned in escaping from custody, the public failed to understand the statement by the Taoiseach on Wednesday that the failure to provide a Garda escort had nothing to do with cutbacks or a lack of resources for the Garda.

He said he found the Minister’s response amazing.

“He has said there is no evidence that there was an issue with Garda resources. Why then were previous requests made by the Irish Prison Service for armed escorts for the individual in question declined?’’

He said if a State agency, charged with keeping criminals locked up and dealing with issues of that nature, requested an armed escort it should be taken on board. “Clearly there is an issue with resources.’’

Mr Collins said the public was aghast that Garda numbers were allowed to dwindle. The Government should follow through on its concerns by providing what the Prison Officers Association had been seeking. These were proper stab-vests, pepper spray, batons and other equipment which frontline prison staff needed to protect themselves.

Mr White said Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald had provided a considerable amount of new resources for the Garda. This included an additional investment of €7 million for the purchase of 370 vehicles towards the end of last year.

“This Government is dealing with a recovering economy and will put resources in place, as required, across the board for all of our public services.

“We are doing that successfully, and that is the problem for the parties opposite.’’

He said 100 new recruits had entered Garda training college in Templemore last September.

Garda recruits

“I remind him that this was the first intake of Garda recruits since the moratorium had been put in place by the government, of which he was a supporter, in 2009.’’

Mr White said there had been a further intake of 100 recruits in December, and another 100 last week. This brought the number to 300, and represented a measure of the Government’s commitment to the Garda.

He said the first intake of recruits would become gardaí next May, and be assigned to stations across the country by the Garda commissioner.