Garda Reserve

Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Questions (656)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

656. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of the Garda Reserve members as of 31 December 2019 that completed the minimum of 208 annual hours per year duty obligations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14537/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

As the Deputy will be aware, service in the Reserve is voluntary and unpaid. However, an allowance is payable to Reserve members who complete a minimum of 208 hours of duty annually as a contribution towards expenses incurred in performing their duties. The allowance is currently set at €1,000 per annum. Reserves are also reimbursed for expenses incurred while attending court in respect of their service as a Reserve.

I have requested the details of the percentage of Garda Reserves who completed 208 hours of service or more as of 31 December 2019 from the Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy on receipt of same.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Question Number 656 which was for answer on 07 July 2020, in which you asked my predecessor, Charlie Flanagan TD, the percentage of the Garda Reserve members as of 31 December 2019 that completed the minimum of 208 annual hours per year duty obligations.

You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the information was available.

For the year 2019, 18.5% of the Garda Reserve completed a minimum of 208 hours duty. Neither the regulations, nor Garda Policy, currently stipulate a minimum number of annual hours that must be completed by any member of the Garda Reserve. As the Deputy may be aware, Garda Reserve members may claim an annual allowance. Garda Policy currently requires a minimum of 208 hours to be completed in a 12 month period in order for the member to claim the allowance. The allowance is currently set at €1,000.

I hope this information is of assistance.

Question No. 657 answered with Question No. 642.