Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

As at 31 March 2008, there were 51 reserve trainees and 264 attested reserve gardaí. In the Dublin metropolitan region, 123 attested reserve gardaí are assigned as follows: 21 at Pearse Street, five at Kevin Street, three at Kilmainham, six at Donnybrook, nine at Store Street, six at Bridewell, six at Fitzgibbon Street, two at Clondalkin, four at Finglas, five at Lucan, three at Ballyfermot, 11 at Blanchardstown, one at Ronanstown, two at Santry, three at Raheny, three at Swords, two at Clontarf, three at Coolock, two at Ballymun, three at Balbriggan, one at Malahide, one at Howth, two at Crumlin, one at Sundrive Road, two at Rathmines, two at Terenure, two at Tallaght, two at Rathfarnham, three at Bray, three at Dún Laoghaire and four at Blackrock.

The 30 attested reserve gardaí in Cork are assigned as follows — three at Mayfield, four at Gurranabraher, four at Midleton, one at Mitchelstown, two at Mallow, 13 at Anglesea Street and three at Togher. There are 111 attested reserve gardaí in other stations throughout the State, assigned as follows: six in Sligo; 16 in Galway; ten at Henry Street, Limerick; six in Ennis; two in Tralee; eight in Waterford; two in Tramore; five in Kilkenny; one in Wexford; one in New Ross; one in Gorey; one in Enniscorthy; one in Arklow; one in Wicklow; one in Newbridge; one in Blessington; two in Naas; four in Carlow; two in Clonmel; one in Cahir; one in Carrick on Suir; two in Tipperary town; one in Thurles; two in Cavan town; one in Monaghan town; four in Drogheda; four in Dundalk; one in Kells; one in Navan; four in Castlebar; one in Westport; three in Ballina; five in Mullingar; one in Longford; four in Letterkenny; two in Tullamore; one in Portlaoise; and one in Roscommon.

The agreed programme for Government has set a target strength for the reserve at 10% of the strength of full-time members of the force. Recruitment is continuing and regular promotional efforts to attract potential reserve members are being undertaken. Garda reserve members undertake their training and other duties on a voluntary basis during their free time. As a result, it is not possible to predict how many people will commence training in any particular period.

In the annual policing plan for 2008, the Garda Commissioner has set a target of recruiting 270 members this year. The next class of reserve trainees will commence training on 7 June. I cannot predict exactly when the full complement of Garda reserve members will be reached but I assure the Deputy the Garda Síochána has advised that it is making every effort to reach it.

The reserve has been notably successful in attracting non-Irish nationals to its ranks. Twenty reserve members or trainees are non-Irish nationals. These include seven from the United Kingdom, two from China, one from Belarus, one from Germany, one from Japan, one from Pakistan, one from Zimbabwe, one from Morocco, one from Nigeria, one from Poland, one from Austria, one from Bulgaria and one from India.

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