Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 September 2018
75. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda reserves in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37952/18]
View answerI am advised by the Commissioner that the strength of the Reserve on 31 July 2018 was 549. It is regrettable that there has been a substantial reduction in the strength of the Reserve in recent years from a peak of 1,164 in 2013. The fall-off arises from a range of factors, not least the lifting in 2014 of the moratorium on recruitment of trainee Gardaí which has affected Reserve numbers in two ways: firstly, since 2014, 276 serving Reserves have successfully applied to become trainee Gardaí, and secondly, both An Garda Síochána and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) have been focused on delivering an accelerated programme of recruitment of full time members of An Garda Síochána. I am sure that the Deputy will agree, notwithstanding the very valuable contribution of Reserve members throughout the country, that it was the right decision, with finite resources, to prioritise running recruitment campaigns to replenish the full-time ranks of An Garda Síochána over the last three years.
The Deputy will be aware that the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing , while recognising the value of a Garda Reserve, has recommended that recruitment to the Garda Reserve should be paused, pending the outcome of the Strategic Review. I have indicated my intention to seek Government’s approval for a High Level Implementation Plan following further detailed consideration of the Report and discussions with the Garda Commissioner, relevant Government Departments and Agencies. Future plans for the Garda Reserve will be taken forward in that context.
The information requested by the Deputy as provided by the Garda Commissioner, is available on my Department’s website through the following link.
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/006_Garda_Reserve_Strength_2009_to_30_July_2018.xlsx/Files/006_Garda_Reserve_Strength_2009_to_30_July_2018.xlsx
For more general information on Garda Facts and Figures please see the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures
