I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 to 249, inclusive, together.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government has in place a commitment for 2000 Reserve Members by 2021.
It is regrettable that the strength of the Reserve as of 30 September 2017 (the latest date for which figures are available) was 607. However, this is partly attributable to a substantial number of Reserves joining the Gardaí as full-time members in recent years.
It is also attributable to the need for Garda management and the Public Appointments Service to prioritise the running of recruitment campaigns for Garda trainees over those for Reserves. I am sure that the Deputy will agree, notwithstanding the very valuable contribution of Reserve members throughout the country, that this was the right call to make in the circumstances.
Fortunately, with Garda recruitment up and running successfully it was possible to enable a recruitment campaign for the Garda to get underway in March. It attracted approximately 2,400 applicants of whom around 1,600 were successful following assessment. To date approximately 500 applicants have been referred on to the Garda Appointment Office from the Public Appointment Service for vetting and medical. I am advised that applicants from this campaign will enter training in early 2018.
As the Deputy will be aware service in the Garda Reserve is voluntary and unpaid. However, an allowance is payable to Reserve members who complete a minimum of 208 hours duty annually as a contribution towards expenses incurred in performing their duties. The allowance is currently set at €1,000 per annum. As this is a fixed allowance it does not change year to year. In addition, the uniform cost per Reserve member is in the region of €1,300.
Reserves are also reimbursed for expenses incurred while attending court in respect of their service as a Reserve.
Thus, the cost of recruiting a new reserve is some €2,300 for the first year and €1,000 per annum thereafter assuming completion of the hours required. It is a relatively straightforward calculation thereafter to calculate the costs involved for the numbers set out in the Deputy’s questions.
As far as increasing the reserve from 607 to 2,500, the cost would be some €4.35 million (i.e. 1,893 x €2,300).