Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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4. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the development and implementation of the Garda Reserve strategy 2021-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52413/22]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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This time last year, the Garda Commissioner published his strategy on the Garda reserve. It was a long-awaited strategy and it arose as a result of a recommendation in the report of the commission on the future of policing into the Garda Reserve. Can the Minister of State give an update to the House as to what is happening in respect of the Garda Reserve? Many members in this House believe that it is a valuable resource, but it is not being used enough and it could play a significant role in policing our community.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Jim O’Callaghan for his important question. Established in 2006, the Garda Reserve represents a real opportunity for anyone wishing to support policing and to give something back to their communities. The reserve reinforces An Garda Síochána's essential community links, and provides the capacity to draw on additional resources to assist in policing. I would like to acknowledge the important contribution made by all members of the reserve who volunteer their time for the community's benefit. As part of the Government’s plan to modernise and strengthen An Garda Síochána, A Policing Service for the Future, the Garda Commissioner has developed a Garda Reserve strategy for 2021-2025, which provides a roadmap for the development of this important service.

The strategy published in October 2021 is informed by an internal review of the reserve, and sets out key commitments including recruitment, training and development, deployment, governance and evaluation. A priority is a new recruitment campaign, which will be held next year and on foot of which new reservists will be appointed for five years initially. The campaign will target a broad and inclusive range of candidates, in keeping with the reserve's role as a visible form of community engagement. The Department of Justice is currently engaging with An Garda Síochána on revisions to the regulations governing the reserve ahead of the commencement of this recruitment process. Consideration is also being given by An Garda Síochána to ensuring that the Garda Reserve can serve as a pathway to future recruitment competitions for Garda members, where individuals have a desire to progress to that position.

The strategy further aims to ensure that members of the reserve are fully supported by local Garda management and that the role is recognised and promoted throughout the organisation. The Garda Commissioner has established an implementation group and oversight committee to ensure that the strategy delivers on its objectives and I look forward to working with him to increase the number of members of the reserve and in realising its full potential as a resource to policing and in providing a pathway to full-time membership of An Garda Síochána, including from minority communities. I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continues to provide support and flexibility to the reserve gardaí carrying out their functions in a voluntary capacity.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I think we all agree that the Garda Reserve is a very valuable resource and we should be using it more. One of the concerns that I have, as do many other Members of the House, is that the numbers of the reserve are supposed to be in the region of 450. Yet, this time last year, we only had 200 members working within the reserve. The Minister of State identified correctly the first priority in order to maximize the use of the reserve, which is recruitment.

We have a problem recruiting persons to An Garda Síochána. The issue in respect of the Garda Reserve is probably as problematic. We are not going to be able to recruit people if we do not start a recruitment campaign. The Minister of State referred to the strategy prepared by the Garda Commissioner. Its first strategic objective is to recruit reservists to the Garda. I am concerned that, unless we keep political pressure on the Garda Commissioner and on An Garda Síochána in general, we will not see the recruitment campaigns we all believe are necessary to get more people in. What can the Government do to ensure the recruitment campaign is effective?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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One of the things we can do is to highlight the importance of the Garda Reserve and the role it can play in supporting An Garda Síochána. Recruitment to the Garda Reserve did cease and it is regrettable that there has been a reduction in the strength of the reserve in recent years. The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland concluded that the Garda Reserve programme was not being utilised to its full potential and recommended that future recruitment to the Garda Reserve should be paused pending the outcome of a comprehensive strategic review to examine how best to structure the reserve to meet the needs of An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána has now completed this review and published its new reserve strategy on 19 October 2021. I assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána will have the full support of the Government in implementing the new reserve strategy and in beginning a new recruitment process to increase the number of Garda reservists. The current number of reservists as of 31 August 2022 is 389. I am informed that a total of 72 Garda reservists attested in 2021 while only one attested in 2022 due to the pausing of recruitment while we waited for the implementation of the new strategy.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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If the difficulty in recruitment is overcome, the next issue is to determine what strategic role the Garda Reserve should have. The statutory power to decide what role it should play is provided to the Commissioner, who can decide that in consultation with the Policing Authority. We need to see the Garda Reserve taking on broader functions and roles. There is sometimes tension between An Garda Síochána and the Garda Reserve. There is nothing unusual about that. It happens throughout the world wherever there is a reserve police force. However, there are many significant roles the Garda Reserve could play in which it is not involved as yet. For instance, the Minister of State will be aware that colleagues of ours in Fianna Fáil and I have called for the establishment of a transit police. There is no reason not to use the Garda Reserve on some public transport as a pilot project in the first instance to ensure that people on public transport feel safer. The reserve's role also need to be expanded beyond policing crowds at matches and duties such as that.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State said there would be recruitment next year. When next year will that be? Will it be in January, February, March or December? What does he envisage will be the strength of the Garda Reserve over time? What is the target in that regard?

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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My question on the Garda Reserve is the same. When will recruitment commence next year? There is a significant shortage of gardaí in my area of County Carlow. I have written to the Garda Commissioner to ask about recruitment in my area but the Garda Reserve plays a significant role, particularly in communities. The biggest issue that comes up in our joint policing committee is the lack of gardaí in communities. The Garda Reserve has a significant part to play and does a great job. I ask that this happen as soon as possible. I also ask that we get more gardaí in Carlow and request an update on the opening of the Garda station in Leighlinbridge.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I reiterate the important role of the Garda Reserve, which is the reason a review was carried out to examine how to ensure that Garda reservists who attest in the future can play that important role and feel comfortable within their role in supporting An Garda Síochána. It also considered how to ensure that recruitment to the reserve reflects society. The breakdown of the current 389 members of the reserve is that 26% are women while 74% are men. As to when recruitment will be carried out, I expect it will be in the second half of next year. In the first half of the year, we will undertake further recruitment to An Garda Síochána itself. We will look to Garda Reserve recruitment thereafter.