Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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559. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to expand and promote the use of the Garda Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13853/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the allocation of resources including the recruitment and training of Garda members and members of the Garda Reserve is entirely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no responsibility in this matter.

I am informed by An Garda Síochána that a class of approximately 100 Garda reserve recruits commenced training on 23/24 March 2019 at the Garda College, Templemore. This is a positive development and delivers on the target set out under 'A Policing Service for the Future', the implementation plan for the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

An Garda Síochána is currently conducting a strategic review of the Garda Reserve to inform future decisions around the use of the Reserve. This approach is also in line with the recommendation in the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The Strategy is scheduled to be concluded during quarter two this year and will inform the development of a Reserve recruitment drive by the end of 2019.