Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 126: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform when the recruitment campaign to the gardaí will be advertised; if he will give details of numbers sought, and if a percentage of places will be reserved for gardaí currently serving in the Garda Reserve force or how the investment in interest and commitment shown by the Garda Reserve will be acknowledged and rewarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36904/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The general moratorium on recruitment and appointments in the Public Service continues to apply to An Garda Síochána. The purpose of initiating a Garda recruitment campaign at this time is to establish a panel of approved candidates who will be available to meet future Garda recruitment needs in line with Government policy. I was happy to obtain the approval of my colleague the Minister for Finance for this competition.

This forward planning is necessary given the lead time involved both in establishing such a panel and in training recruits to the point of attestation.

The Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 allow the Public Appointments Service to give due recognition to any satisfactory service by the person as a reserve member of the Garda Síochána.

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. The Government is strongly committed to the development of the Reserve. It has been a very successful initiative and I am confident that it will continue to flourish into the future.