Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the age limit of 35 years for joining the Garda Síochána; his views on proposals for extending this limit in view of the upper limit of 55 in Northern Ireland, UK, Australia, Canada and so on; the reason this limit is not enforced in the Garda Reserve; his views on the anomaly this causes; if he will review Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments)(Amendment) Regulations 2004 on the basis that it is out of date and does not take into account the establishment of the Garda Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44252/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (SI No 749 of 2004) set the maximum age for recruitment to An Garda Síochána for all applicants, irrespective of service elsewhere, at 35 years. This maximum age was recommended by the Garda Commissioner taking into account the training and operational requirements of the Force and all the relevant legislation. There are currently no proposals to increase the age limit.

The higher age profile for members of the Garda Reserve is related to the limited number of hours which a Reserve member is on duty (average of 4 hours per week) and the nature of the duties to be undertaken by Garda Reserve members. There are currently no proposals to alter these Regulations.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the low intake into the Garda Reserve; if he will propose incentives that would promote greater participation within the reserve; the number of members of the Garda Reserve to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44253/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The number of attested Garda Reserve members at 1 December 2008 was 331 with a further 116 people in training. I am satisfied with the level of interest shown by people wishing to join the Garda Reserve. Service in the Garda Reserve is voluntary and unpaid. Members of the Garda Reserve receive an allowance of €1,000 on the proviso that they complete 208 hours of duty per annum. There are no proposals to change this entitlement at present.

In the first ten months of 2008, 3,729 people registered an interest in becoming a member of the Garda Reserve. There are a range of reasons why some of the applicants do not secure a place as Reserve trainees. The reasons include, failure to meet the entry criteria relating to age and residence, failure at interview/written stage, failure at the medical examination and failure at the security vetting stage. As well as this, a significant number of applicants may not always be available to attend for interview or take up a place in training when it is first offered due to family, work or social commitments.