Frances Fitzgerald: Additional 300 garda reserve members to be recruited

The garda reserve is to be bolstered by the addition of 300 new members this year, after the Government announced a new recruitment campaign.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the campaign is part of the Programme for Government’s commitment to increase the strength of the Garda reserve to 2,000 by 2021. The current strength is at 690.

The reserve’s role is to aid gardaí by providing local patrols and participate in crime prevention initiatives targeted at specific local problem areas. They are also involved in policing major incidents and events, and in providing other operational support to full-time officers.