Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 April 2008
7 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of members of the Garda reserve recruited to date; the stations to which they have been allocated; the number of applicants for the reserve currently in training; if he is satisfied with the rate of recruitment; when he expects that the full complement of 1,500 will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14073/08]
View answerAs at 31 March 2008, there were 51 reserve trainees and 264 attested reserve gardaí. In the Dublin metropolitan region, 123 attested reserve gardaí are assigned as follows: 21 at Pearse Street, five at Kevin Street, three at Kilmainham, six at Donnybrook, nine at Store Street, six at Bridewell, six at Fitzgibbon Street, two at Clondalkin, four at Finglas, five at Lucan, three at Ballyfermot, 11 at Blanchardstown, one at Ronanstown, two at Santry, three at Raheny, three at Swords, two at Clontarf, three at Coolock, two at Ballymun, three at Balbriggan, one at Malahide, one at Howth, two at Crumlin, one at Sundrive Road, two at Rathmines, two at Terenure, two at Tallaght, two at Rathfarnham, three at Bray, three at Dún Laoghaire and four at Blackrock.
The 30 attested reserve gardaí in Cork are assigned as follows — three at Mayfield, four at Gurranabraher, four at Midleton, one at Mitchelstown, two at Mallow, 13 at Anglesea Street and three at Togher. There are 111 attested reserve gardaí in other stations throughout the State, assigned as follows: six in Sligo; 16 in Galway; ten at Henry Street, Limerick; six in Ennis; two in Tralee; eight in Waterford; two in Tramore; five in Kilkenny; one in Wexford; one in New Ross; one in Gorey; one in Enniscorthy; one in Arklow; one in Wicklow; one in Newbridge; one in Blessington; two in Naas; four in Carlow; two in Clonmel; one in Cahir; one in Carrick on Suir; two in Tipperary town; one in Thurles; two in Cavan town; one in Monaghan town; four in Drogheda; four in Dundalk; one in Kells; one in Navan; four in Castlebar; one in Westport; three in Ballina; five in Mullingar; one in Longford; four in Letterkenny; two in Tullamore; one in Portlaoise; and one in Roscommon.
The agreed programme for Government has set a target strength for the reserve at 10% of the strength of full-time members of the force. Recruitment is continuing and regular promotional efforts to attract potential reserve members are being undertaken. Garda reserve members undertake their training and other duties on a voluntary basis during their free time. As a result, it is not possible to predict how many people will commence training in any particular period.
In the annual policing plan for 2008, the Garda Commissioner has set a target of recruiting 270 members this year. The next class of reserve trainees will commence training on 7 June. I cannot predict exactly when the full complement of Garda reserve members will be reached but I assure the Deputy the Garda Síochána has advised that it is making every effort to reach it.
The reserve has been notably successful in attracting non-Irish nationals to its ranks. Twenty reserve members or trainees are non-Irish nationals. These include seven from the United Kingdom, two from China, one from Belarus, one from Germany, one from Japan, one from Pakistan, one from Zimbabwe, one from Morocco, one from Nigeria, one from Poland, one from Austria, one from Bulgaria and one from India.
What is the Minister's understanding of the lack of success in recruiting members of the Garda reserve? Some 1,400 reserve gardaí were promised but there are many Garda divisional districts with a single reserve garda. I cannot remember any similar issue attaining so much mileage in the newspapers, with hundreds of thousands of words written about this initiative. I hope it is not the case, now that its author has left politics, that there is not the same commitment from the current Minister and the Department on this issue.
When does the Minister expect the target of 1,400 to be met? I saw an amusing programme on television last Sunday night which featured Risteard Cooper posing as the former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with three Garda reserve members with L plates on their backs running after him and looking after his every whim. Now that the former Minister, Mr. McDowell, is functioning only at the Bar, I hope it is not the case that the current Minister's commitment to the notion of a Garda reserve is only lukewarm and that the Garda is resisting it.
I am fully committed to the Garda reserve. One of my first functions as Minister, during which I paid tribute to my predecessor, was to attend a passing out ceremony for the Garda reserve. Applicants are carefully assessed and there has been a high attrition rate on applications. It has always been recognised that it will take some time to reach the desired target level for the force because it takes time to recruit, train and assess members. I am strongly of the view that this is a good initiative.
One of the functions being undertaken by the Garda reserve is to accompany full-time gardaí on routine patrolling duties. That is working well and results in an immediate increase in Garda visibility in particular areas.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
