Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of members of the Garda Reserve at the latest date for which figures are available; the number he expects will be in place by 1 June 2007; when he expects that the promised full complement of 1,500 will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12922/07]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of personnel in the Garda Reserve force; the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13296/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 119 together.

The Garda Commissioner is proceeding with the recruitment and training of 1,500 members of the Garda Reserve. The first group of 36 Garda Reserve members completed their training and were formally attested as members of An Garda Síochána on 15th December 2006. They have been deployed in Dublin (Store Street and Pearse Street), Cork (Anglesea Street), Galway City and Sligo.

The second group commenced training in the Garda College at Templemore on 20th January 2007. This group consists of 52 trainees who will be deployed in Blanchardstown, Santry, Dun Laoghaire, Tallaght, Limerick, Clare, Sligo, Galway and Kerry. It is expected that they will be attested in May.

Training for the third group of 35 trainees commenced on 3rd March 2007 and it is expected that they will be attested in June. It is also expected that further groups of Reserve trainees will commence training on a monthly basis. By June of this year there will be three groups of trainees who will have been attested, consisting of up to 123 members.

Further interviews were held in recent weeks for applicants throughout the country and interviews have now taken place in each of the 26 counties. Further interviews will take place over the coming weeks and months.

As the nature of the Reserve is that participation is purely voluntary, I cannot definitively say what any particular future monthly intake of volunteers will be, or exactly when the overall target of 1,500 members will be met. Garda Reserve trainees have work, family and other commitments which they will have to balance with their service with An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána is offering maximum flexibility in this regard to accommodate those who wish to put themselves forward for service.

While I am satisfied with the progress being made in the recruitment and training of Reserve members, I consider that the process of initial recruitment can be made more effective with a local dimension. In that context, I have asked the Garda Commissioner to involve local Garda Superintendents directly in local recruitment arrangements to attract suitable candidates from the local community. This will assist in ensuring that the 1,500 target is reached as soon as possible.

The Commissioner has recently appointed a Chief Superintendent to oversee the Garda Reserve on a full-time basis. A Superintendent has also been appointed to this area. I will of course, in conjunction with the Commissioner, keep all procedures relating to the Garda Reserve under review to ensure that target figure of 1,500 is reached as soon as possible.