Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have been contacted by many Garda Reserve personnel, as have other members I am sure. There are approximately 1,100 of them - if I am right. Under the 2005 Act I believe it is limited to 10% of the force headcount. What is An Garda Síochána's plan to enhance the complement of Garda reserves that it has? People come to me as a public representative and tell me they have applied to become a member of the Garda Reserve for which one can apply online. The applications are sitting there with the Public Appointments Service not going anywhere. The point I make is that there are people out in the community who want to become Garda reserves and who want to give their time by way of service to their communities, working in conjunction with An Garda Síochána. Is there any plan or vision to expand the remit or role of the Garda Reserve, and grow it into a unit of the organisation similar to those in foreign jurisdictions, where it could become the feeder into the main force by way of recruitment?

The Garda Reserve members are not represented within the witnesses organisation. There is no representative organisation and many of the reserves feel undervalued. I say that with respect because that is what they are saying to me. They feel they are undervalued by Garda management. They do not have a co-ordinated, official voice. I believe the Commissioner should look at creating a formalised structure with them; there is the Garda Representative Association, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and various representative levels up through the force. I ask the Commissioner to comment on those points.