New graduates provide boost for Garda Reserve

THE number of garda reservists will reach 270 today with the graduation of the latest batch of recruits.

A additional set of 10 recruits are due to graduate this Saturday, bringing the total strength of the Garda Reserve to 280.

The main garda representative associations accepted the reality of the Garda Reserve in 2006 following a lengthy and acrimonious dispute with former justice minister Michael McDowell and, to a lesser extent, ex-Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy.

But recruitment to the reserve force has made slow progress, given that the initial target in March 2006 was that the body would have a final strength of 4,000, with 900 to be in place by September 2006.

The Programme for Government 2007 revised this target and set an aim that 10% of the regular force should be reservists by 2012, suggesting a reserve strength of about 1,500.

Last April, the Commission for Public Service Appointments said 7,358 people had applied for the reserve in 2006, but that only 73 were appointed.

Shortly before that, Mr McDowell announced that garda superintendents would in future become involved in recruiting candidates. He said the existing, centralised recruitment system, was too complicated and slow.

Today, 61 garda reservists graduate at Templemore. They will work in garda stations across the country.

A garda spokeswoman said there were already 206 garda reservists working in stations and that 71 were in training, including those graduating today.