John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda reservists currently stationed in Clondalkin, Lucan and Ronanstown and also in the DMR western; the comparable figures for 2014 and 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34846/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including Garda Reserves, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources. The number of Garda Reserves in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West Division on 31 December 2014, 31 December 2015 and on 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the table.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to double the Garda Reserve to act in a supportive role undertaking local patrols and crime reduction measures.

I am informed that the Commissioner has in recent months assigned a Superintendent to head up the Garda Reserve Management Office and that Office is currently undertaking an audit of the experience and skills of Reserves which, when completed, will assist Garda management in considering the future role to be played by the Reserve. I am also informed that work is ongoing on the development of a recruitment plan with the objective of recruiting and training 300 new Reserves annually starting next year, to bring the strength of the Reserve up from its current strength of 789 members to 2,000.