Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the total number of members of the Garda Reserve recruited to date; the stations to which they have been allocated; the total number of applicants for the reserve currently 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 any restrictions have been placed on recruitment to the reserve arising from budgetary restrictions; his plans 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. [43011/10]

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 623 with a further 184 in training. The stations to which these Reserve members are set out in the table below.

The Government has set a target strength for the Reserve at 10% of the full time strength of the Force. While recruitment is ongoing, the Garda Reserve depends on volunteers who undertake their training and other duties during their free time and it is therefore difficult to predict how many people will commence training in any particular period. However, I can assure the Deputy and the House that the Garda Commissioner is continuing recruitment with the objective of reaching that target and over 80 members of the Garda Reserve are due to graduate in the Garda College in Templemore next Friday 26th November.

It is important to note that 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. I am very satisfied with the current rate of recruitment and there has been a significant increase in the number of expressions of interest lodged with the Public Appointments Service.

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.

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.