A recruitment drive to fill 900 positions in the new Garda Reserve force is to begin on Monday when advertisements will be placed in national newspapers. The recruitment drive will be run in conjunction with advertisements seeking full-time members of the force.
A total of about 1,000 full-time members are being sought in the latest round with the first of these to enter training at the Garda College, Templemore, in February.
These will be among the last recruits to join as part of the force's current expansion programme, under which 2,000 additional members are being recruited to bring the strength of the force to more than 14,000.
The Minister for Justice Mr McDowell had previously indicated that the recruitment campaign for reservists would begin with the placement of advertisements in late May or early June. However, a spokesman said successful candidates will be chosen within weeks, meaning reserves will be in training before the end of next month, as was always planned.
An Garda Síochána is to formally launch the recruitment drive later today.
The Department of Justice and the Garda are to press ahead with recruitment despite continued opposition to the plans from the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI). Both organisations have called for greater investment in the full-time force before any Garda reserve is established. They have both adopted a policy of non-co-operation with reservists.
