Written answers

Thursday, 18 December 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Strength

5:00 pm

Photo of Olwyn EnrightOlwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community gardaí per Garda division employed here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47155/08]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 315 which was put down for answer on Wednesday 17 December 2008. The position remains unchanged.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of members of the Garda Reserve recruited to date; the stations to which they have been allocated; the number of applicants for the Reserve in training; if he is satisfied with the rate of recruitment; when he expects that the full complement of 1,500 will be in place; if restrictions have been placed on recruitment to the Reserve arising from budgetary restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46762/08]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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On 30th November 2008, there were 331 attested Reserve Gardaí and 114 Reserve trainees. The 331 attested members currently operational are assigned to the following stations:

Dublin Metropolitan Region

Pearse St, Kevin Street, Kilmainham, Donnybrook, Store St, Bridewell, Fitzgibbon Street, Clondalkin, Finglas, Lucan, Ballyfermot, Blanchardstown, Ronanstown, Santry, Raheny, Swords, Clontarf, Coolock, Ballymun, Balbriggan, Malahide, Howth, Crumlin, Sundrive Road, Rathmines, Terenure, Tallaght, Rathfarnham, Dun Laoghaire and Blackrock.

Cork

Mayfield, Bandon, Gurranabraher, Midleton, Fermoy, Anglesea Street, Watercourse Road, Clonakilty, Macroom and Togher.

Other Regions

Sligo, Galway, Tuam, Henry Street, Limerick, Ennis, Tralee, Waterford, Tramore, Kilkenny, Wexford, New Ross, Gorey, Enniscorthy, Arklow, Wicklow, Baltinglass, Bray, Newbridge, Celbridge, Naas, Kildare, Carlow, Clonmel, Cahir, Carrick on Suir, Tipperary town, Nenagh, Thurles, Cavan town, Monaghan town, Drogheda, Dundalk, Ashbourne, Trim, Kells, Navan, Castlebar, Westport, Ballina, Mullingar, Longford, Letterkenny, Tullamore, Portlaoise, Carrick on Shannon and Roscommon.

The Agreed Programme for Government has set a target strength for the Reserve at 10% of the full-time strength of the force. As the Garda Reserve depends on volunteers who undertake their training and other duties during their free time, it is difficult to predict how many people will commence training in any particular period. However, I can assure the Deputy that the Garda Commissioner is continuing to make every effort to reach the recruitment target and that no restrictions are in place for recruitment to the Garda Reserve.

Recruitment is ongoing and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) has received just over 4,000 new applications to join the Reserve already this year up to end November. The PAS hold interviews on a rolling basis at a range of locations around the country. The ongoing public information campaign to recruit members to the Garda Reserve includes indoor and outdoor awareness raising campaigns and radio and TV promotional interviews nationally and locally.

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