Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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148. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the present strength of the Garda Reserve by Garda division on 31 October 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36175/16]

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.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Garda Reserves by Garda Division on 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is as set out in the following table.

The strength of the Reserve has fallen in recent years from a peak of 1,164 in 2013 to 756 currently. The fall-off arises from a range of factors, not least the lifting of the moratorium on recruitment of trainee Gardaí which has affected Reserve numbers in two ways - firstly over 160 serving Reserves have successfully applied to become trainee Gardaí, and secondly, resources in both An Garda Síochána and in the Public Appointment Service have been focused on delivering an accelerated programme of recruitment of full time members of An Garda Síochána. I am sure that the Deputy will agree, notwithstanding the very valuable contribution of Reserve members throughout the country, that it was the right decision, with finite resources, to prioritise the running of recruitment campaigns to replenish the full-time ranks of An Garda Síochána over the last two years.

Now that the recruitment process for trainee Gardaí is bedded down and a continuous pipeline of successful applicants is in place to ensure ongoing recruitment, there is the capacity in the system to commence work on the development of multi-annual plan to increase the Reserve numbers to 2,000 over the next five years in line the commitment in the Programme for Government. Achieving this will require in the order of 300 new Reserves to be recruited and trained annually. This will be significant undertaking and it is important that the processes around it are efficient and effective as possible. With this in mind the Commissioner is examining how the recruitment should be done - centrally as has been the case to date or more locally - and also how the training can best be delivered. The expectation at this stage is that we will see new reserves entering An Garda Síochána mid next year.

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.

In the context of the planned expansion of the Reserve it is important that consideration is given to optimising its use. I am informed by the Commissioner that the Garda Reserve Management 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 including whether additional powers should be conferred on Reserve members.

Reserve Gardaí by Garda Division 30/09/2016