Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The target is 2,000 additional reservists by 2026. Next year and the following year is when we will hire the vast majority of those. Prior to the competition opening there was a review of the overall structure of the reserve and its functions, as well as the recommendation to increase the stipend for reservists, which was secured in the budget. That has been set out. While there were some minor changes it is really important that reserves are used and that they are there to support any of the reserve members and the gardaí they work with. They work really well together. Certainly given the more extraordinary events we have where we need significant numbers of gardaí, whether for matches, concerts or protests, it is important to have the Garda Reserve there to support them as well.