Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has welcomed todays launch of a new recruitment campaign for Reserve members of An Garda Síochána and expressed confidence that some of the new recruits will be based in the county.
The campaign is necessary to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to increase the strength of the Garda Reserve to 2,000 by 2021, to act in a supportive role undertaking local patrols and crime reduction measures.
Deputy Carey said that the aim is to recruit 300 Reserves during the current year
“Reserve members have undergone training in many of the skills required to be an effective full-time member of An Garda Síochána and it is important that we build on the very real contribution that they are making to the policing of communities right across the country. The increase in the strength of the Reserve will allow the Commissioner to make full use of the Reserve to support the delivery of an effective, visible Police Service in our communities.”
“I would encourage anyone interested in pursuing policing as a career to consider first becoming a member of the Reserve where they can see at first-hand what being a Guard actually involves.
“There is now a separate recruitment stream for members of the Reserve who want to become Guards that recognises the commitment and dedication of Reserve members and their important contribution to policing the State. The ongoing accelerated recruitment to fulfil the Government’s commitment to increase the strength of An Garda Síochána to 15,000 members also continues,” Deputy Carey explained.
Key facts about the current Reserves intake include:
• The current strength of the Garda Reserve is 663
• 182 are women, 481 are men
• The average age of a female Reserve is 36, compared to 40 for male Reserves
• 20 different nationalities are represented including people who are Iranian, Polish, Nigerian, Italian, Lithuanian, Albanian, Indian and Chinese
• Backgrounds vary from fitness instructors to firemen to bank clerks
“The Garda Reserve is an integral element of An Garda Síochána, connecting directly with communities across the country, a central ethos of the organisation” said Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan.
“Being a Garda Reserve is an incredibly rewarding experience. It provides opportunities to learn new skills, gain front-line policing experience and give back to the local community, while also being part of a great team. It is great that figures showing a substantial number of our Reserves over the years have decided to pursue full-time careers as Gardaí. This is a testament to the positive experience they had while volunteering for our organisation and proves that being a Reserve gives you a real taste of what life is like for our hard-working Garda members,” the Commissioner added.
Applications must be made through www.publicjobs.ie. The closing date for applications is Thursday, April 13.