Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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82. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to change the rules whereby members of the Garda Reserve cannot patrol without a Garda being with them (details supplied). [28126/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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One of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts is to direct and control An Garda Síochána, including the Garda Reserve. Deployment of a reserve member is governed by the Garda Síochána (Reserve Members) Regulations 2006 which states that a Reserve member shall be placed on duty under the supervision of a member of another rank.

The Garda Reserve performs policing duties as determined by the Garda Commissioner, while accompanied by full time Gardaí. The role is to provide local patrols and participate in crime prevention initiatives targeted at specific local problem areas. Reserve members are also involved in policing major incidents and events, and in providing other operational support to full time Gardaí. In recent years the Garda Commissioner has conferred further powers on reserve members under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and the Road Traffic Act 1961 and has also decided that they should carry out more duties including the serving of summonses, and the issuing of Fixed Charge Penalty Notices where offences are detected.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to double the Reserve along with other commitments to further accelerate recruitment to reach a target of 15,000 Gardaí and to further increase the number of civilians. In the context of the planned expansion of the Reserve it is important that consideration is given to optimising its use and I expect that the audit of the skills and experience of reserve members being undertaken at present by the Garda Reserve Management Office established by the Commissioner will inform consideration of the future role of the Reserve including whether additional powers should be conferred on reserve members.