Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising a very important issue. I agree with him on the importance of the Garda Reserve. I agree that members of the reserve force can be of significant help to the community. I recall being in government when the Garda Reserve was introduced. Like all institutions, initially there was some resistance to the idea. Increasingly now, both within An Garda Síochána and within the military, there is an acknowledgement of the role of the reserve. We are creating new initiatives in terms of accelerating, expanding, and recruiting more reserve gardaí and likewise in the military reserves. There is a new recruitment campaign. It will be held in quarter 4 of 2023. On foot of this, new reservists will be appointed. A strategy has been developed within the context of A Policing Service for our Future. The Commissioner has developed a Garda Reserve strategy for 2021 to 2025. There are moves afoot. I think the Commissioner is possessed of this and of expanding the number of volunteers.

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