John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

75. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of recruits who have opted out of the Garda Síochána Reserve, by division, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18448/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including the Garda Reserve, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of all resources.

The Garda Reserve makes a real and tangible contribution to the policing of communities right across the country. This is recognised in the Programme for Government "A Programme for a Partnership Government" which includes a commitment to double the Garda Reserve to act in a supportive role undertaking local patrols and crime reduction measures. The expansion of the Garda Reserve will complement the commitments in the Programme tocontinue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000 and also to increase further civilianisation to free up Gardaí to front-line policing duties. The delivery of these measures over the lifetime of the Government will ensure an enhanced visible policing presence in communities nationwide.

The recruitment campaign for 2016 for full-time members of the An Garda Síochána included a special stream for eligible reserve members as a means of giving due recognition to satisfactory service by such members. I am pleased to note that provisional figures show that 169 Garda reserves applied under this stream and that 70 successfully completed the assessment tests and interview.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Garda Reserves who were discharged during the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 (to 27 June) is as set out in the table. The breakdown of Garda Reserve discharges by Divisions is not readily available and can only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources relative to the information sought.

Garda Reserves Departures*

*Please note that departures include resignations, retirements, dismissals and deaths.