Written answers
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Garda Reserve
10:00 pm
Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 73: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the progress of the Garda Reserve since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14362/09]
Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 136: 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 currently 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; his views on the suggestion made by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors that the reserve should be scrapped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14272/09]
Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 136 together.
At 31 March 2009, there were 322 attested Reserve Gardaí and 152 Reserve trainees. Details of the stations to which Reserve members are currently assigned are set out in the table below.
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 Deputies that the Garda Commissioner is continuing to make every effort to reach the recruitment target. In that context I would point out that the moratorium on recruitment and appointments in the public service does not apply to the Garda Reserve.
Recruitment is ongoing and the Public Appointments Service has received over 1,100 expressions of interest to join the Reserve in 2009. 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.
The Government is strongly committed to the development of the Reserve. I am fully satisfied that the Reserve provides a valuable contribution to the Garda Síochána and to the many communities where it is operating. In particular, I would like to express my appreciation to the members of the Reserve who serve on a voluntary basis and give of their time very generously.
Stations to which the 322 attested Reserve Members are currently assigned
| Anglesea Street | 10 |
| Arklow | 1 |
| Ashbourne | 1 |
| Athlone | 1 |
| Balbriggan | 3 |
| Ballina | 3 |
| Ballyfermot | 3 |
| Baltinglass | 1 |
| Ballymun | 6 |
| Bandon | 1 |
| Blackrock | 5 |
| Blanchardstown | 10 |
| Bray | 3 |
| Bridewell | 5 |
| Cahir | 1 |
| Carlow | 5 |
| Carrick On shannon | 1 |
| Carrick-on-Suir | 1 |
| Castlebar | 8 |
| Cavan Town | 3 |
| Celbridge | 1 |
| Clairemorris | 1 |
| Clonakilty | 2 |
| Clondalkin | 3 |
| Clonmel | 2 |
| Clontarf | 4 |
| Coolock | 6 |
| Crumlin | 3 |
| Donnybrook | 4 |
| Drogheda | 7 |
| Dun Laoghaire | 4 |
| Dundalk | 5 |
| Ennis | 8 |
| Enniscorthy | 2 |
| Fermoy | 2 |
| Finglas | 4 |
| Fitzgibbon St | 5 |
| Galway | 18 |
| Gorey | 1 |
| Gurranabraher | 6 |
| Henry Street | 10 |
| Howth | 3 |
| Kells | 1 |
| Kevin St | 6 |
| Kildare | 3 |
| Kilkenny | 6 |
| Kilmainham | 3 |
| Letterkenny | 5 |
| Longford | 1 |
| Lucan | 7 |
| Macroom | 1 |
| Malahide | 1 |
| Mayfield | 3 |
| Middleton | 3 |
| Monaghan Town | 4 |
| Mullingar | 6 |
| Naas | 2 |
| Navan | 2 |
| Nenagh | 1 |
| New Ross | 1 |
| Newbridge | 2 |
| Pearse St | 17 |
| Portlaoise | 1 |
| Raheny | 3 |
| Rathfarnham | 3 |
| Rathmines | 2 |
| Ronanstown | 1 |
| Roscommon | 3 |
| Santry | 4 |
| Sligo | 6 |
| Store St | 6 |
| Sundrive Rd | 1 |
| Swords | 4 |
| Tallaght | 2 |
| Terenure | 3 |
| Thurles | 1 |
| Tipperary Town | 1 |
| Togher | 4 |
| Tralee | 2 |
| Tramore | 2 |
| Trim | 1 |
| Tuam | 2 |
| Tullamore | 4 |
| Watercourse Rd. | 3 |
| Waterford | 9 |
| Westport | 3 |
| Wexford | 1 |
| Whitehall | 2 |
ben brown
Posted on 15 May 2009 6:44 pm (Report this comment)
Hi I was wondering if someone from the Minister of Justice office could give me some feedback on the following points regarding the Garda Reserves
1 Can you tell me why the Garda Reserves do not have power of arrest under section 4 criminal justice (public order) act 1994.
2 Why they do not have the rights to use section 8 (2) failure to comply with the direction's of a member of an Garda Siochana.
3 Why they cannot arrest if a crime that is been committed is under 5 yrs detention they seem to only have the same powers as the public on this matter over 5 yrs or more.
4 Why they do not have section 2 (1) assaults power's of arrest under the non fatal offences act of 1997.
5 Why a Garda reserve is actually off duty while not wearing their uniform but should anything happen out side they are still subject to the Garda Ombudsman.
Personally if a Garda reserve holds the status of Garda reserve they, should also be regarded as been on duty at all times, unless they have resigned from the force, the same way as the full time member is never off duty. If they are good enough to be brought under scrutiny from the Garda Ombudsman, they should be good enough to be on duty at all times regardless of a wearing uniform or not .
These are just a few questions I would like the minister to answer and address, now that the current climate regarding crime in Ireland has changed, you look to have Garda Reserves come on to the streets and assist the regular Garda, who in turn think the Reserves have more powers than they do have, which means when they go to a public order offence, the Garda reserve has to stand idly by and look on while this is all kicking off, leaving the full time member to fend for themselves makes no sense to me these powers are so outdated .
And actually hindering the Garda Reserves roll, if they are good enough to wear the full uniform they should be afforded the powers that they need in order to uphold the law, and now that there is going to be no intake, in full time members until 2011 there are now more and more people joining the Reserves, so that when the full Time regular Garda's are ready to come on stream, these people will be nearly fully trained in all aspects of the law
but I think it defeat's the purpose of having extra Garda Reserves on the street paroling that have no powers and all they are doing is making a physical presents, most people wont actually be aware of what powers the Garda Reserve has, but the hardened criminal will, and they will just tell the Reserve to get lost,and there is nothing they can do about it, maybe the Minister could actually look at the powers the Garda Reserve, have and maybe amend some of them so that they can carry out their duties to the best of their abilities, while upholding the law.