Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the total number of the Garda Reserve recruited to date; if he will list the stations to which they have been allocated; the total number of applicants for the Reserve currently in training; if he is satisfied with the rate of recruitment; when he expects the full complement of 1,500 will be in place; if any restrictions have been placed on recruitment to the Reserve arising from budgetary restrictions; if he intends to undertake the review of the operation of the Garda Reserve, as recommended in the report of the Garda Inspectorate on resource allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35378/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Garda Reserve, on the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 626 with a further 144 in training. I have asked the Commissioner for the latest report on the allocation of Garda Reserve members throughout the country and as soon as this becomes available I will communicate it to the Deputy. The Government has set a target strength for the Reserve at 10% of the full time strength of the Force. Recruitment is ongoing and the Government is strongly committed to the development of the Reserve. The moratorium on recruitment and appointments in the public service does not apply to the Garda Reserve, as members are volunteers and do not draw a salary. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for determining the range of powers and duties of Reserve members, and I am sure that he will keep these under review in line with the recommendation of the Inspectorate.